n. [ OF. estat, F. état, 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Romans xii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Social standing or rank; quality; dignity. [ 1913 Webster ] God hath imprinted his authority in several parts, upon several estates of men. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A person of high rank. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] She's a duchess, a great estate. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ] Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee. Mark vi. 21. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] See what a vast estate he left his son. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. The state; the general body politic; the common-wealth; the general interest; state affairs. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] I call matters of estate not only the parts of sovereignty, but whatsoever . . . concerneth manifestly any great portion of people. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
The fourth estate, a name often given to the public press. [ 1913 Webster ]
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