1590s, from Latin instigator "a stimulator," agent noun from instigare "urge on, incite" (see instigation). The classical Latin fem. form instigatrix is recorded in English from 1610s.
she was the instigator of their quarrel
instead
instellation
instep
instigate
instigation
instigator
instill
instillation
instinct
instinctive
instinctual