state

state: state [stāt]

n.

[ME < OFr & L: OFr estat < L status, state, position, standing < pp. of stare, to STAND]

1. a set of circumstances or attributes characterizing a person or thing at a given time; way or form of being; condition [a state of poverty]

2. a particular mental or emotional condition [a state of bliss]

3. condition as regards physical structure, constitution, internal form, stage or phase of existence, etc. [liquid state]

4.

a) condition or position in life; social status, rank, or degree

b) high rank or position

c) the style of living characteristic of people having high rank and wealth; rich, imposing, ceremonious display [drove up in state]

5. [sometimes S-]

a) the power or authority represented by a body of people politically organized under one government, esp. an independent government, within a territory or territories having definite boundaries

b) such a body of people; body politic

☆ 6. [often S-] any of the territorial and political units that together constitute a federal government, as in the U.S.

☆ 7. the territory of a STATE (senses 5b & 6)

8. the political organization constituting the basis of civil government [church and state]

9. the sphere of highest governmental authority and administration [matters of state]

10. [S-] foreign policy: see SECRETARY OF STATE (sense 1), STATE DEPARTMENT

adj.

1. of, for, or characteristic of occasions of great ceremony; formal; ceremonial

2. [sometimes S-] of or controlled, maintained, etc. by the government or a state

vt.

stated, stating

1. to fix or establish by specifying [at the stated hour]

2.

a) to set forth in words, esp. in a specific, definite, or formal way [to state one's objectives]

b) to express or present in a nonverbal way [to state a musical theme in the first three measures]

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in a state or into a state

Informal in (or into) a condition of agitation or excitement

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lie in state

to be displayed formally to the public before burial

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the States

the United States

statable

adj.

SYN.- STATE and CONDITION both refer to the set of circumstances surrounding or characterizing a person or thing at a given time [what is his mental state, or condition?], but CONDITION more strongly implies some relationship to causes or circumstances which may be temporary [his condition will not permit him to travel ]; SITUATION implies a significant interrelationship of the circumstances, and connection between these and the person involved [to be in a difficult situation]; STATUS, basically a legal term, refers to one's state as determined by such arbitrary factors as age, sex, training, mentality, service, etc. [his status as a veteran exempts him ]

Synonyms:

Condition, situation, position, plight, predicament, pass, case, category / Rank, condition, quality / Commonwealth, civil community, body politic / Pomp, parade, dignity, grandeur, magnificence, glory, greatness, Express (with particularity), explain, specify, set forth, narrate, recite, represent fully, declare, affirm, National, public

Look at other dictionaries:

state — state, the state The state is a distinct set of institutions that has the authority to make the rules which govern society . It has, in the words of Max Weber, a ‘monopoly on legitimate violence’ within a specific territory. Hence, the state… … Dictionary of sociology
State — (st[=a]t), n. [OE. stat, OF. estat, F. [ e]tat, fr. L. status a standing, position, fr. stare, statum, to stand. See {Stand}, and cf. {Estate}, {Status}.] 1. The circumstances or condition of a being or thing at any given time. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
state — [steɪt] noun 1. [countable usually singular] the condition that someone or something is in at a particular time: • The property market is in a poor state. • I personally think the economy is in a worse state than the Government has been admitting … Financial and business terms
state — n often attrib 1 a: a politically organized body of people usu. occupying a definite territory; esp: one that is sovereign b: the political organization that has supreme civil authority and political power and serves as the basis of government… … Law dictionary
state — state; state·hood; state·less; state·less·ness; state·let; state·li·ly; state·li·ness; state·sid·er; su·per·state; tung·state; un·state; mi·cro·state; mini·state; in·ter·state; state·ly; state·ment; … English syllables
state — ► NOUN 1) the condition of someone or something at a particular time. 2) a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government. 3) a community or area forming part of a federal republic. 4) (the States) the… … English terms dictionary
state — It is usual to spell it with a capital initial letter when it refers to political entities, either nations (The State of Israel / a State visit), or parts of a federal nation (the State of Virginia / crossing the State border), and when it means… … Modern English usage
State — State, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stating}.] 1. To set; to settle; to establish. [R.] [1913 Webster] I myself, though meanest stated, And in court now almost hated. Wither. [1913 Webster] Who calls the council, states the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
state — [n1] condition or mode of being accompaniment, attitude, capacity, case, category, chances, character, circumstance, circumstances, contingency, element, environment, essential, estate, event, eventuality, fix, footing, form, frame of mind, humor … New thesaurus
State — (st[=a]t), a. 1. Stately. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. Belonging to the state, or body politic; public. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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