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

state

v.