transitive verb constituted -·tut′ed, constituting -·tut′·ing

1. to set up (a law, government, institution, etc.); establish
2. to set up (an assembly, proceedings, etc.) in a legal or official form
3. to give a certain office or function to; appoint our officially constituted spokesperson
4. to make up; be the components or elements of; form; compose twelve people constitute a jury
5. to be actually as designated such action constitutes a felony

Etymology: ME constituten < L constitutus, pp. of constituere, to set up, establish < com-, together + statuere, to set: see statue