state

  • 1state — state, the state The state is a distinct set of institutions that has the authority to make the rules which govern society . It has, in the words of Max Weber, a ‘monopoly on legitimate violence’ within a specific territory. Hence, the state… …

    Dictionary of sociology

  • 2State — (st[=a]t), n. [OE. stat, OF. estat, F. [ e]tat, fr. L. status a standing, position, fr. stare, statum, to stand. See {Stand}, and cf. {Estate}, {Status}.] 1. The circumstances or condition of a being or thing at any given time. [1913 Webster]… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3state — [steɪt] noun 1. [countable usually singular] the condition that someone or something is in at a particular time: • The property market is in a poor state. • I personally think the economy is in a worse state than the Government has been admitting …

    Financial and business terms

  • 4state — n often attrib 1 a: a politically organized body of people usu. occupying a definite territory; esp: one that is sovereign b: the political organization that has supreme civil authority and political power and serves as the basis of government… …

    Law dictionary

  • 5state — [stāt] n. [ME < OFr & L: OFr estat < L status, state, position, standing < pp. of stare, to STAND] 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… …

    English World dictionary

  • 6state — state; state·hood; state·less; state·less·ness; state·let; state·li·ly; state·li·ness; state·sid·er; su·per·state; tung·state; un·state; mi·cro·state; mini·state; in·ter·state; state·ly; state·ment; …

    English syllables

  • 7state — ► NOUN 1) the condition of someone or something at a particular time. 2) a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government. 3) a community or area forming part of a federal republic. 4) (the States) the… …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8state — It is usual to spell it with a capital initial letter when it refers to political entities, either nations (The State of Israel / a State visit), or parts of a federal nation (the State of Virginia / crossing the State border), and when it means… …

    Modern English usage

  • 9State — State, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stating}.] 1. To set; to settle; to establish. [R.] [1913 Webster] I myself, though meanest stated, And in court now almost hated. Wither. [1913 Webster] Who calls the council, states the… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 10state — [n1] condition or mode of being accompaniment, attitude, capacity, case, category, chances, character, circumstance, circumstances, contingency, element, environment, essential, estate, event, eventuality, fix, footing, form, frame of mind, humor …

    New thesaurus