state

[steyt]

noun

1. the condition of a person or thing, as with respect to circumstances or attributes.

   a state of health.

2. the condition of matter with respect to structure, form, constitution, phase, or the like.

   water in a gaseous state.

3. status, rank, or position in life; station.

   He dresses in a manner befitting his state.

   Synonyms: standing

4. the style of living befitting a person of wealth and high rank.

   to travel in state.

5. a particular condition of mind or feeling.

   to be in an excited state.

6. an abnormally tense, nervous, or perturbed condition.

   He's been in a state since hearing about his brother's death.

7. a politically unified people occupying a definite territory; nation.

8. the territory, or one of the territories, of a government.

9. Sometimes State any of the bodies politic which together make up a federal union, as in the United States of America.

10. the body politic as organized for civil rule and government (church ).

11. the operations or activities of a central civil government.

    affairs of state.

12. Also called State Department. Informal.,  State. the Department of State.

13. Printing.,  a set of copies of an edition of a publication which differ from others of the same printing because of additions, corrections, or transpositions made during printing or at any time before publication.

14. Informal.,  the States, the United States (usually used outside its borders).

    After a year's study in Spain, he returned to the States.

adjective

1. of or relating to the central civil government or authority.

2. made, maintained, or chartered by or under the authority of one of the commonwealths that make up a federal union: a state bank.

   a state highway;

   a state bank.

3. characterized by, attended with, or involving ceremony.

   a state dinner.

   Synonyms: dignified, imposing, ceremonial, stately

4. used on or reserved for occasions of ceremony.

verb (used with object)

stated, stating 

1. to declare definitely or specifically.

   She stated her position on the case.

   Synonyms: affirm, asseverate, assert, aver

2. to set forth formally in speech or writing.

   to state a hypothesis.

3. to set forth in proper or definite form.

   to state a problem.

4. to say.

5. to fix or settle, as by authority.

   Synonyms: determine

state

/ steɪt /

noun

1. the condition of a person, thing, etc, with regard to main attributes

2. the structure, form, or constitution of something

   a solid state

3. any mode of existence

4. position in life or society; estate

5. ceremonious style, as befitting wealth or dignity

   to live in state

6. a sovereign political power or community

7. the territory occupied by such a community

8. the sphere of power in such a community

   affairs of state

9. (often capital) one of a number of areas or communities having their own governments and forming a federation under a sovereign government, as in the US

10. (often capital) the body politic of a particular sovereign power, esp as contrasted with a rival authority such as the Church

11. obsolete,  a class or order; estate

12. informal,  a nervous, upset, or excited condition (esp in the phrase in a state )

13. (of a body) to be placed on public view before burial

14. a situation; present circumstances or condition

15. the current situation

1. controlled or financed by a state

   state university

2. of, relating to, or concerning the State

   State trial

3. involving ceremony or concerned with a ceremonious occasion

   state visit

verb

1. to articulate in words; utter

2. to declare formally or publicly

   to state one's innocence

3. to resolve

Other Word Forms

• statable adjective
• statehood noun
• stateable adjective
• antistate adjective
• counterstate verb
• outstate verb (used with object)
• substate noun
• unstatable adjective
• unstateable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of state¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun stat(e), partly from estat estate, partly from Latin status “condition” ( status ); the meanings state in defs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 derive from Latin status (rērum) ) “state (of things)” or status (reī pūblicae) “state (of the republic)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of state¹

C13: from Old French estat , from Latin status a standing, from stāre to stand

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. state of mind. state of mind.

2. lie in state, (of a corpse) to be exhibited publicly with honors before burial.

   The president's body lay in state for two days.

More idioms and phrases containing state

• in a lather (state)
• in state
• ship of state

Synonym Study

State, condition, situation, status are terms for existing circumstances or surroundings. State is the general word, often with no concrete implications or material relationships: the present state of affairs. Condition carries an implication of a relationship to causes and circumstances: The conditions made flying impossible. Situation suggests an arrangement of circumstances, related to one another and to the character of a person: He was master of the situation. Status carries official or legal implications; it suggests a complete picture of interrelated circumstances as having to do with rank, position, standing, a stage reached in progress, etc.: the status of negotiations. See maintain.

Example Sentences

The banking secrecy laws, now much diluted, were designed to shield an individual's personal finances from the prying eyes of the state.

From BBC

These days, even the opponents of these bills have accepted the premise that the state faces a “housing shortage,” a term evoked at least 30 times in committee hearings and floor speeches this year.

From Los Angeles Times

Parents without legal status might face increased scrutiny, and states could be pressured to verify children’s citizenship before providing government benefits.

From Salon

Judges in multiple district courts, including Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington state, had issued nationwide injunctions halting the order.

From BBC

At least 36 people have died, including children, in a crush at a political rally in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, state officials say.

From BBC

Related Words

• affirm 
• articulate 
• describe 
• explain 
• expound 
• express 
• give 
• present 
• put 
• say 
• set forth 
• speak 
• specify 
• tell 
• voice