Esquire Definition
ĕskwīr, ĭ-skwīr
noun
In England, a member of the gentry ranking just below a knight.
Webster's New World
Used as an honorific usually in its abbreviated form, especially after the name of an attorney or a consular officer.
Jane Doe, Esq.; John Doe, Esq.
American Heritage
A candidate for knighthood, acting as attendant and shield-bearer for a knight; squire.
Webster's New World
A barrister-at-law.
American Heritage
A title of courtesy, usually abbreviated Esq., Esqr., placed after a man's surname and corresponding more ceremoniously to Mr.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Esquire
Noun
Singular:
esquirePlural:
esquiresOrigin of Esquire
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From Old French escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer (compare modern French écuyer (“shield-bearer, armor-bearer”)), by apheresis “squire of a knight, esquire, equerry, rider, horseman”, Late Latin scutarius (“shield-bearer”), from Latin scutum (“shield”); probably akin to English hide (“to cover”). Compare equerry, escutcheon.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English esquier from Old French escuier from Late Latin scūtārius shield bearer from Latin scūtum shield skei- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Old French esquiere, esquierre, esquarre (“a square”)
From Wiktionary
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