esquire

American  

[es-kwahy^uhr, e-skwahyuhr] / ˈɛs kwaɪər, ɛˈskwaɪər /

noun

1. (initial capital letter) an unofficial title of respect, having no precise significance, sometimes placed, especially in its abbreviated form, after a man's surname in formal written address: in the U.S., usually applied to lawyers, women as well as men; in Britain, applied to a commoner considered to have gained the social position of a gentleman. Esq.

2. squire.

3. a man belonging to the order of English gentry ranking next below a knight.

4. Archaic. squire.

---

verb (used with object)

esquired, esquiring

1. to raise to the rank of esquire.

2. to address as “Esquire.”

3. to escort or attend in public.

esquire British  

/ ɪˈskwaɪə /

noun

1. a title of respect, usually abbreviated Esq, placed after a man's name

2. (in medieval times) the attendant and shield bearer of a knight, subsequently often knighted himself

3. rare a male escort

---

Etymology

Origin of esquire

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English esquier, from Middle French escuier, from Latin scūtārius “shield bearer,” from scūt(um) scutum + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Among his recommendations, Rees-Mogg asks that “all non-titled males” are given the abbreviation Esq., for esquire, after their name.

From The Guardian • Jul. 29, 2019

OK, esquire, but I go back to what I was taught on the first day of law school: 1.

From New York Times • Mar. 20, 2018

One of the last Senators to be born an esquire, Burnet Rhett Maybank, 55, died last week of a heart attack.

From Time Magazine Archive

In telescopic order he was put through the degrees of page, esquire and knight.

From Time Magazine Archive

But at that very moment a trumpet sounded, and a man came summoning him, the king’s esquire, to wait at the king’s board.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien