Estate
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -eɪt
Origin
From Anglo-Norman astat, from Old French estat (French: état).
Full definition of estate
Noun
estate
(plural estates)- (now rare, archaic) state; condition from 13th c.
- Shakespearewhen I came to man's estate
- Bible, Romans xii. 16Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
- (archaic) status, rank from 13th c.
- Jeremy TaylorGod hath imprinted his authority in several parts, upon several estates of men.
- (archaic) The condition of one's fortunes; prosperity, possessions from 14th c.
- (obsolete) A "person of estate"; a nobleman or noblewoman 14th-17th c.
- 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XVI:and anone cam oute of a chambir unto hym the fayryst lady that ever he saw, and more rycher beseyne than ever was Quene Guenyver or ony other astate.
- LandorShe's a duchess, a great estate.
- Bible, Mark vi. 21Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee.
- (historical) A major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country and formerly possessing distinct political rights (Estates of the realm) from 14th c.
- 1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, Harper Perennial 2007, p. 115:I am afraid that some of the nobles who are campaigning for it simply want to use the Estates to cut down the King's power and increase their own.
- 2011, Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms, Penguin 2012, p. 202:The three estates of feudal lords, clergy and royal officers met in separate chambers, and exercised an advisory role.
- (legal) The nature and extent of a person's interest in, or ownership of, land from 15th c.
- An (especially extensive) area of land, under a single ownership from 18th c.
- The collective property and liabilities of someone, especially a deceased person from 19th c.
- (UK) A housing estate from 20th c.
- (UK, automotive) A station wagon; a car with a tailgate (or liftgate) and storage space to the rear of the seating which is coterminous with the passenger compartment (and often extensible into that compartment via folding or removable seating) from 20th c.
- (obsolete) The state; the general body politic; the common-wealth; the general interest; state affairs.
- Francis BaconI call matters of estate not only the parts of sovereignty, but whatsoever ... concerneth manifestly any great portion of people.
Synonyms
- estate car estate car, station sedan, station wagon, wagon