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serving as a means; contributing to promote; conductive; helpful; serviceable; as, he was instrumental in conducting the business. The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth. Shak.

The view that the sanction of truth is its utility, or that truth is genuine only in so far as it is a valuable instrument. -- In`stru*men"tal*ist, n.

One who plays upon an instrument of music, as distinguished from a vocalist.

The quality or condition of being instrumental; that which is instrumental; anything used as a means; medium; agency. The instrumentality of faith in justification. Bp. Burnet. The discovery of gunpowder developed the science of attack and defense in a new instrumentality. J. H. Newman.

n end. South. They will argue that the end being essentially beneficial, the means become instrumentally so. Burke.

Usefulness or agency, as means to an end; instrumentality. [R.] Hammond.

In church or chapel style; -- said of compositions sung in the old church style, without instrumental accompaniment; as, a mass a capella, i. e., a mass purely vocal.

The faculty of acting or of exerting power; the state of being in action; action; instrumentality. The superintendence and agency of Providence in the natural world. Woodward.

he part sung by the lowest female, or contralto, voices, between in tenor and soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor.

A vocal or instrumental composition of a soft tranquil character, having a lulling effect; a cradle song.

A piece or pessage, whether vocal or instrumental, pecuilarly adapted to singing; -- sometimes called cantilena.

An instrumental piece in the madrigal style.

stry or hangings for a chamber. -- Chamber lye, urine. Shak. -- Chamber music, vocal or instrumental music adapted to performance in a chamber or small apartment or audience room, instead of a theater, concert hall, or chuch. -- Chamber practice (Law.), the practice of counselors at law, who give their opinions in p…

f being competent; fitness; ability; adequacy; power. The loan demonstrates, in regard to instrumental resources, the competency of this kingdom to the assertion of the common cause. Burke. To make them act zealously is not in the competence of law. Burke.

A composition for two performers, whether vocal or instrumental.

ld; the supposed father. -- Spiritual father. (a) A religious teacher or guide, esp. one instrumental in leading a soul to God. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A priest who hears confession in the sacrament of penance. -- The Holy Father (R. C. Ch.), the pope.

One who holds a thing in trust for another; a trustee. Instrumental to the conveying God's blessing upon those whose fiduciaries they are. Jer. Taylor.

The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preëminence in the combined effect.

Conducive; instrumental. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Instrumental. [R.]