instar, n. indecl. [perh. in and root sta-; cf. Gr. ἵστημι, στήλη, etc.].
I A sketch , image , resemblance , likeness , kind , manner : parvum instar eorum, quae, etc., Liv. 28, 17, 2.—
B Ad instar, or simply instar.
1 According to the likeness of , after the fashion of , like.
α Ad instar, with gen. (post-class.): vallis continuis montibus ad instar castrorum clauditur, Just. 36, 3: ad instar proprietatis, non ad instar possessionis, Dig. 6, 2, 7. —
β Instar, with gen. (class.): Erana, quae fuit non vici instar, sed urbis, Cic. Fam. 15, 4, 8: instar muri, Caes. B. G. 2, 17: instar montis equus, Verg. A. 2, 15: nomina ea partium urbis et instal urbium sunt, Liv. 25, 25, 5 Weissenb.—
2 Instar, with gen., about : cohortes quaedam, quod instar legionis videretur, Caes. B. C. 3, 66; cf.: videretis vix duarum male plenarum legiuncularum instar in castris regis, Liv. 35, 49, 10: milites dati duarum instar legionum, id. 26, 28, 11: habet Tiro instar septuaginta (mearum epistularum), Cic. Att. 16, 5, 5: librorum octo, Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 10. —
II A form , figure , appearance : quantum instar in ipso! Verg. A. 6, 865: terra ad universi caeli complexum quasi puncti instar obtinet, has almost the appearance of , looks almost like a point , Cic. Tusc. 1, 17, 40.—
III Worth , value : omnia vix minimi momenti instar habent, Cic. Off. 3, 3, 11: unus ille dies mihi immortalitatis instar fuit, was worth immortality to me , id. Pis. 22, 52: unus is innumeri militis instar habet, is as good as , equivalent to , Ov. H. 16, 368: Plato mihi unus instar est omnium, is to me worth them all , Cic. Brut. 51, 191: clientes appellari, mortis instar putant, is as bad as death to them , id. Off. 2, 20, 69.