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state definition

state (stāt)

noun

  1. a set of circumstances or attributes characterizing a person or thing at a given time; way or form of being; condition a state of poverty
  2. a particular mental or emotional condition a state of bliss
  3. condition as regards physical structure, constitution, internal form, stage or phase of existence, etc. liquid state
    1. condition or position in life; social status, rank, or degree
    2. high rank or position
    3. the style of living characteristic of people having high rank and wealth; rich, imposing, ceremonious display drove up in state
    1. the power or authority represented by a body of people politically organized under one government, esp. an independent government, within a territory or territories having definite boundaries
    2. such a body of people; body politic
  4. ☆ any of the territorial and political units that together constitute a federal government, as in the U.S.
  5. ☆ the territory of a state (senses & )
  6. the political organization constituting the basis of civil government church and state
  7. the sphere of highest governmental authority and administration matters of state
  8. foreign policy

Etymology: ME < OFr & L: OFr estat < L status, state, position, standing < pp. of stare, to stand

adjective

  1. of, for, or characteristic of occasions of great ceremony; formal; ceremonial
  2. of or controlled, maintained, etc. by the government or a state

transitive verb stated stat′ed, stating stat′·ing

  1. to fix or establish by specifying at the stated hour
    1. to set forth in words, esp. in a specific, definite, or formal way to state one's objectives
    2. to express or present in a nonverbal way to state a musical theme in the first three measures

Related Forms:

state Idioms

in a state

or into a state
Informal in (or into) a condition of agitation or excitement

lie in state

to be displayed formally to the public before burial

the States

the United States

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
state Synonyms

state

n.

  1. A sovereign unit

    republic, land, kingdom; see country 3, nation 1.

  2. A condition

    circumstance, situation, welfare, phase, case, station, nature, estate, time, footing, status, standing, stipulation, proviso, contingency, juncture, occurrence, occasion, eventuality, element, prerequisite, imperative, essential, requirement, limitation, category, standing, reputation, environment, chances, outlook, position, event, accompaniment.

  3. A difficulty

    plight, pinch, quandary; see difficulty 1, predicament.

  4. Mood

    frame of mind, humor, disposition; see mood1.

state and condition both refer to the set of circumstances surrounding or characterizing a person or thing at a given time what is his mental state, or condition?, but condition more strongly implies some relationship to causes or circumstances that may be temporary his condition will not permit him to travel; situation implies a significant set of interrelated circumstances, and a connection between these and the person involved to be in a difficult situation; status refers to one's position as determined by legal or customary precedent or by such arbitrary factors as age, sex, training, mentality, service, etc. his status as a veteran exempts him

in a state

disturbed, upset, badly off; see confused, troubled 1, 2.


state

v.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

state Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • consciousness: Each light body acts as abridge between the worlds and creates a personal connection to expanded states of consciousness.

Noun used with modifier

  • member: The EU should require member states to take adequate actions.

Modifies a noun

  • pension: State pensions are financed from the taxation of today's workers.

Noun used with modifier

  • welfare: The chancellor's reforms are part of an adaptation to the declining competence of the welfare state, which other European countries may follow.
state usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

state quotes

Boston is a state of mind.

-Appleton,Thomas Gold

Man is by nature a political animal; it is his nature to live in a state.

-Aristotle

If absolute sovereignty be not necessary in a State, how comes it to be so in a family?

-Astell, Mary

state quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"state." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/state>

APA Style

state. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/state

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