Lewis & Short

instrūmentum, i, n. [instruo], an implement of any kind, a utensil, tool, instrument (class.).

  1. I. Lit.: militare, Caes. B. G. 6, 30: culinarum argentea, Just. 38, 10, 4: crudelia jussae instrumenta necis, Ov. M. 3, 698.
      1. 2. Esp., sing. collect., instruments, apparatus, material, stock, furniture (freq. and class.): instrumentum ac ornamenta villae, Cic. Dom. 24, 62: orationes magna impensā magnoque instrumento tueri, id. Verr. 2, 3, 21, § 53: belli instrumentum et apparatus, id. Ac. 2, 1, 3: rusticum, Phaedr. 4, 4, 24; Val. Max. 4, 4, 6: hostium spolia, monumenta imperatorum, decora atque ornamenta fanorum, in instrumento atque in supellectile Verris nominabuntur, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 97; cf. Pall. 1, 43, 1: hibernorum, Caes. B. C. 5, 31: bellicum, Liv. 42, 53, 4: nauticum, id. 30, 10, 3: venatorium, Plin. Ep. 3, 19, 3: piscationis, Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 41.
        Esp., in law, the personalty, chattels, or stock of a farm, business, trade, etc.: fundo legato, neque instrumentum fundi … ad legatarium pertinet, Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 34: instrumento cauponio legato, ea debentur, quae in cauponis usum parata sunt, velut vasa, id. ib. 3, 6, 61: pistoris, id. ib. § 64: medici, Dig. 33, 7, 18, § 10; cf.: in fanis alia vasorum sunt et sacrae supellectilis, alia ornamentorum, quae vasorum sunt instrumenti instar habent, quibus sacrificia conficiuntur, apparatus, Macr. S. 3, 11, 5.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. Of writings, an instrument, document, record: opus est intueri omne litis instrumentum, Quint. 12, 8, 12: aerearum tabularum tria milia … instrumentum imperii pulcherrimum ac vetustissimum, Suet. Vesp. 8: publici instrumenti auctoritas, id. Calig. 8: emtionis, Dig. 24, 1, 58: si scriptum fuerit instrumento, promisisse aliquem, Paul. Sent. 5, 7, 2: instrumentorum obligatio desideratur, id. ib. 2, 17, 13.
    2. B. Store, provision, supply, means, assistance, furtherance, etc.: oratoris, provision, supply, Cic. de Or. 1, 36, 165: causarum, id. ib. 2, 34, 146.
      Absol.: quid viatici, quid instrumenti satis sit, i. e. for a journey, Cic. Att. 12, 32, 2: instrumenta ad obtinendam sapientiam, means, id. Leg. 1, 22, 59: virtutis, id. Cat. 2, 5, 9: naturae, id. Brut. 77, 268: graviorum artium, id. ib. 97: dicendi, Quint. 12, 11, 24: ciborum, i. e. organs of digestion, Plin. 7, 50, 51, § 168.
    3. C. Ornament, embellishment: felices ornent haec instrumenta libellos, Ov. Tr. 1, 1, 9: anilia, apparel, dress, id. M. 14, 766; Suet. Aug. 73.