In-stīn'ctive, a.

a. [Fr. instinctif, Sp. instintivo.] Prompted by instinct; determined by natural impulse or propensity; acting without reasoning, deliberation, instruction, or experience; original to the mind; not dependent on experience or reasoning; spontaneous.

Swifter than thought the wheels instinctive fly. Pope.

With taste instinctive give Each grace appropriate. Mason.

The terms instinctive belief, instinctive judgment, instinctive cognition, are expressions not ill adapted to characterize a belief, judgment, or cognition, which, as the result of no anterior consciousness, is, like the products of animal instinct, the intelligent effect of (as far as we are concerned) an unknown cause. Sir W. Hamilton.