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. State. Also called State Department. Informal. 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. the States, Informal. 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)

, stat·ed, stat·ing.

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. lie in state
    (of a body) to be placed on public view before burial
14. state of affairs
    a situation; present circumstances or condition
15. state of play
    the current situation

adjective

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

Derived Forms

• ˈstatable, adjective
• ˈstatehood, noun

Other Words From

• stat·a·ble state·a·ble adjective
• an·ti·state adjective
• coun·ter·state verb counterstated counterstating
• out·state verb (used with object) outstated outstating
• sub·state noun
• un·stat·a·ble adjective
• un·state·a·ble 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 indefs 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. lie in state, (of a corpse) to be exhibited publicly with honors before burial:

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

2. state of mind. state of mind.

More idioms and phrases containing state

In addition to the idiom beginning with state , also see 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

She was first elected to the Hawaii State Legislature aged 21 in 2002, the youngest person ever elected in the state.

From BBC

The onions were directly distributed in many western and midwestern states, including Colorado, Iowa, and Kansas.

From BBC

On top of that, the county and state fight over paying for it.

From Los Angeles Times

He co-founded one of the state’s first conservation organizations, the Little Traverse Conservancy.

From Salon

HRW’s report says this amounts to “forcible transfer” and that “evidence shows it has been systematic and part of a state policy”.

From BBC

Related Words

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