'institute' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'instituere', where the prefix 'in-' meant 'into' or 'on' and 'stituere'/'statuere' meant 'to place, to set up'.

'institute' changed from Latin 'instituere' into Old French forms (e.g. 'instituer') and entered Middle English as forms like 'instituten' before becoming the modern English word 'institute'.

Initially, it meant 'to set up or establish (something)', but over time it also came to mean 'an established organization created for a particular purpose' and retained the verbal sense 'to introduce or begin (a system, policy, or proceedings)'.