constitution

记忆“constitution”可以采用“构成（constitute）+ 体（-ution）”的方法。想象一个宪法是国家的基础框架（constitute），它的构成（-ution）定义了一个国家的法律和政府的基本结构。通过这样的联想，可以更容易记住这个单词的意思。

constitution 宪法

con-, 强调。-stit, 站，词源同stand, institute. 即站立的，比喻义国家基石，国家根本。

constitution (n.)

mid-14c., "law, regulation, edict," from Old French constitucion (12c.) "constitution, establishment," and directly from Latin constitutionem (nominative constitutio) "act of settling, settled condition, anything arranged or settled upon, regulation, order, ordinance," from constitut-, past participle stem of constituere (see constitute).

Meaning "action of establishing" is from 1580s; that of "way in which a thing is constituted" is from c. 1600; that of "physical health, strength and vigor of the body" is from 1550s; of the mind, "temperament, character" from 1580s. Sense of "mode of organization of a state" is from c. 1600; that of "system of principles by which a community is governed" dates from 1730s; especially of a document of written laws since the U.S. and French constitutions, late 18c.

1. The constitution prohibits them from military engagement on foreign soil.

宪法禁止他们在外国采取军事行动。

2. Brazil says its constitution forbids the private ownership of energy assets.

巴西称其宪法禁止个人占有能源资产。

3. The German constitution is an excellent model of decentralised government.

德国宪法是实行地方政府分权制的优秀典范。

4. After the war, a convention was set up to frame a constitution.

战后，为制定宪法组织了一次会议。

5. The constitution also confers large powers on Brazil's 25 constituent states.

宪法还赋予巴西的25个成员州很大的权力。

【law, rule, regulation, code, act, constitution】
这组词都有“法同，法规”的意思，其区别是：
law: 普通用词，泛指由最高当局所制订、立法机构所通过的任何成文或不成文的法规或条例。
rule: 通常指机关、团体的规章、条例或比赛规则；也指对人行为、方法等所作的规定，还可指习俗所承认的规定。
regulation: 普通用词，指用于管理、指导或控制某系统或组织的规则、规定或原则等。
code: 指某一阶层或社会所遵守的一整套法典、法规或法则；也可指与某一特殊活动或主题有关的规则。
act: 指经立法机构通过并由行政管理签署的法案。
constitution: 指治理国家或国家在处理内外政务时所遵循的基本法律和原则；也指规章规则的汇集。