1. Acting as an instrument; 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.
2. (Mus.) Pertaining to, made by, or prepared for, an instrument, esp.
a musical instrument; as, instrumental music, distinguished from vocal
music. "He defended the use of instrumental music in public worship."
Macaulay.
Sweet voices mix'd with instrumental sounds.
Dryden.
3. (Gram.) Applied to a case expressing means or agency; as, the
instrumental case. This is found in Sanskrit as a separate case, but in
Greek it was merged into the dative, and in Latin into the ablative. In
Old English it was a separate case, but has disappeared, leaving only a
few anomalous forms.
Instrumental errors, those errors in instrumental measurements, etc.,
which arise, exclusively from want of mathematical accuracy in an
instrument.
In`stru*men"tal*ist, n. One who plays upon an instrument of music, as
distinguished from a vocalist.
In`stru*men*tal"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Instrumentalities (&?;). 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.
In`stru*men"tal*ly (?), adv. 1. By means of an instrument or agency; as
means to an end. South.
They will argue that the end being essentially beneficial, the
means become instrumentally so.
Burke.
2. With instruments of music; as, a song instrumentally accompanied.
Mason.
In`stru*men"tal*ness, n. Usefulness or agency, as means to an end;
instrumentality. [R.] Hammond.