first estate

American  

noun

1. the first of the three estates: the clergy in France; the Lords Spiritual in England.

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first estate British  

noun

1. the first of the three estates of the realm, such as the Lords Spiritual in England or the clergy in France until the revolution

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Etymology

Origin of first estate

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

When I attended my first estate sale in November at a Beverly Hills home, a stunning vintage Teac A-7010 tape recorder caught my attention.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2023

Anson MacAuslan was among the first estate managers to secure funding from Peatland Action — a project funded by the Scottish government to restore peatlands.

From Nature • Feb. 11, 2020

How long man remained in the first estate, is not known.

From A Rational Theology As Taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Widtsoe, John A.

His manner showed it, to her impatient annoyance, as he hastily introduced another aspect of man's first estate.

From The Good Comrade by Betts, Anna Whelan

I confess the Scripture does not expressly attribute these several endowments to Adam in his first estate.

From The World's Great Sermons, Volume 02 Hooker to South by Kleiser, Grenville