Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (3)
1.
a subsidiary organ of government created for a special purpose;
- Example: "are the judicial instrumentalities of local governments adequate?"- Example: "he studied the French instrumentalities for law enforcement"2.
the quality of being instrumental for some purpose;
3.
an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in accomplishing some end;
[syn: instrumentality, instrumentation]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Instrumentality \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.
[1913 Webster]
The instrumentality of faith in justification. --Bp.
Burnet.
[1913 Webster]
The discovery of gunpowder developed the science of
attack and defense in a new instrumentality. --J. H.
Newman.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
instrumentality
n 1: a subsidiary organ of government created for a special
purpose; "are the judicial instrumentalities of local
governments adequate?"; "he studied the French
instrumentalities for law enforcement"
2: the quality of being instrumental for some purpose
3: an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in
accomplishing some end [syn: instrumentality,
instrumentation]