instrumentality

instrumentality
    n 1: a subsidiary organ of government created for a special
         purpose; "are the judicial instrumentalities of local
         governments adequate?"; "he studied the French
         instrumentalities for law enforcement"
    2: the quality of being instrumental for some purpose
    3: an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in
       accomplishing some end [syn: {instrumentality},
       {instrumentation}]
    

Instrumentality \In`stru*men*tal"i*ty\, n.; pl.
   {Instrumentalities}.
   The quality or condition of being instrumental; that which is
   instrumental; anything used as a means; medium; agency.
   [1913 Webster]

         The instrumentality of faith in justification. --Bp.
                                                  Burnet.
   [1913 Webster]

         The discovery of gunpowder developed the science of
         attack and defense in a new instrumentality. --J. H.
                                                  Newman.
   [1913 Webster]
    

24 Moby Thesaurus words for "instrumentality":
      agency, agent, channel, device, energy, expedient, force,
      going between, instrument, instrumentation, intermediation,
      machinery, mean, mechanism, mediation, medium, might, ministry,
      organ, power, recourse, resort, service, vehicle