install and instil

Yes, the first thing that hits you is that in Australia we have opted to follow the American spelling with double l in the case of install, but to follow the British spelling with a single l in the case of instil.  It’s fortunate that English is so obliging, so resilient that it can cope with a lot of inconsistencies.  The British do a single l for instal, instil, enrol, enthral and fulfil, whereas the Americans do double ll for the whole set. At the moment we have stuck with enrol, enthral and fulfil but I would bet that fulfil is on its way to being fulfill, and enthral will become enthrall.

But we should not confuse words and use to install where we meant to instil, or vice-versa.  The word install comes from the medieval Latin installarer to fix in place or put in position.  In- meaning ‘into’ and stallare to place or position.  Instil also comes from Latin from the verb instillare to put in by drops.  Something that is instilled is more deeply absorbed than something that is installed which always remains separate although attached.

Traditionally people who take office take up a physical position.  They sit on a throne or on a chair of honour, they take their seat at the top of the table, they stand on a raised platform above everyone else.  They are installed, put in a place or position of honour.  So you can install someone in a position of power.  You can also install a computer program or a light fitting.

The literal meaning of instilling is this business of administering a liquid drop by drop.  You might instil oil into the ear canal.  But we very rapidly applied this image to the process of introducing ideas or precepts into the minds of others.  We are particularly fond of instilling virtuous ideas into the minds of the young.

Just remember that what you instil goes much further in that what you install, and is more permanent.