01 n. Settled condition or form of existence; state; condition or circumstances of life or of any person; situation.
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1.
Settled condition or form of existence; state; condition or circumstances of life or of any person; situation.“Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.” — Romans xii. 16.
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2.
Social standing or rank; quality; dignity.“God hath imprinted his authority in several parts, upon several estates of men.” — Jer. Taylor.
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3.
A person of high rank.[Obs.]“She's a duchess, a great estate.” — Latimer.“Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee.” — Mark vi. 21.
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4.
A property which a person possesses; a fortune; possessions, esp. property in land; also, property of all kinds which a person leaves to be divided at his death.“See what a vast estate he left his son.” — Dryden.
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5.
The state; the general body politic; the common-wealth; the general interest; state affairs.[Obs.]“I call matters of estate not only the parts of sovereignty, but whatsoever . . . concerneth manifestly any great portion of people.” — Bacon.
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6.
The great classes or orders of a community or state (as the clergy, the nobility, and the commonalty of England) or their representatives who administer the government; as, the estates of the realm (England), which are (1) the lords spiritual, (2) the lords temporal, (3) the commons.
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7.
The degree, quality, nature, and extent of one's interest in, or ownership of, lands, tenements, etc.; as, an estate for life, for years, at will, etc.(Law)
Phrases & compounds
The fourth estate —
a name often given to the public press.