from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Estate \Es*tate"\ ([e^]s*t[=a]t"), n. [OF. estat, F. ['e]tat, L.
status, fr. stare to stand. See {Stand}, and cf. {State}.]
1. Settled condition or form of existence; state; condition
or circumstances of life or of any person; situation.
"When I came to man's estate." --Shak.
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Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low
estate. --Romans xii.
16.
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2. Social standing or rank; quality; dignity.
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God hath imprinted his authority in several parts,
upon several estates of men. --Jer. Taylor.
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3. A person of high rank. [Obs.]
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She's a duchess, a great estate. --Latimer.
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Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords,
high captains, and chief estates of Galilee. --Mark
vi. 21.
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4. A property which a person possesses; a fortune;
possessions, esp. property in land; also, property of all
kinds which a person leaves to be divided at his death.
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See what a vast estate he left his son. --Dryden.
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5. The state; the general body politic; the common-wealth;
the general interest; state affairs. [Obs.]
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I call matters of estate not only the parts of
sovereignty, but whatsoever . . . concerneth
manifestly any great portion of people. --Bacon.
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6. pl. The great classes or orders of a community or state
(as the clergy, the nobility, and the commonalty of
England) or their representatives who administer the
government; as, the estates of the realm (England), which
are (1) the lords spiritual, (2) the lords temporal, (3)
the commons.
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7. (Law) The degree, quality, nature, and extent of one's
interest in, or ownership of, lands, tenements, etc.; as,
an estate for life, for years, at will, etc. --Abbott.
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{The fourth estate}, a name often given to the public press.
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