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(), n.[OE. stat, OF. estat, F. 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. State is a term nearly synonymous with "mode," but of a meaning more extensive, and is not exclusively limited to the mutable and contingent. Sir W. Hamilton. Declare the past and present state of things. Dryden. Keep the state of the question in your eye. Boyle. 2. Rank; condition; quality; as, the state of honor. Thy honor, state, and seat is due to me. Shak. 3. Condition of prosperity or grandeur; wealthy or prosperous circumstances; social importance. She instructed him how he should keep state, and yet with a modest sense of his misfortunes. Bacon. Can this imperious lord forget to reign, Quit all his state, descend, and serve again? Pope. 4. Appearance of grandeur or dignity; pomp. Where least og state there most of love is shown. Dryden. 5. A chair wit State (), a. 1. Stately. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. Belonging to the state, or body politic; public. State v. t.[imp. & p. p.Stated; p. pr. & vb. n.Stating.] 1. To set; to settle; to establish. [R.] I myself, though meanest stated, And in court now almost hated. Wither. Who calls the council, states the certain day. Pope. 2. To express the particulars of; to set down in detail or in gross; to represent fully in words; to narrate; to recite; as, to state the facts of a case, one's opinion, etc. To state it. To assume state or dignity. [Obs.] "Rarely dressed up, and taught to state it." Beau. & Fl. State n.A statement; also, a document containing a statement. [R.] Sir W. Scott. スポンサード リンク
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