constitution
/ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃən/noun
1
- a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed宪法; 政体。
1.1
- historical a decree, ordinance, or law〈史〉章程; 法规, 法令; 法律。
1.2
the Constitution
the basic written set of principles and precedents of federal government in the US, which came into operation in 1789 and has since been modified by twenty-seven amendments美国宪法。
2
- mass noun the composition of something构成, 构造; 成分：
the genetic constitution of a species.
物种的遗传结构。
2.1
- the forming or establishing of something组成; 建立, 设立; 制定：
the constitution of a police authority.
警察机构的设立。
3
- a person's physical state as regards vitality, health, and strength体格; 体质：
pregnancy had weakened her constitution.
怀孕削弱了她的体质。
3.1
- a person's mental or psychological make-up（精神或心理）素质。
词源
Middle English （denoting a law, or a body of laws or customs）： from Latin constitutio（n-）, from constituere 'establish, appoint' （see CONSTITUTE）.