Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Estate
Es-tate′
(ĕs-tāt′)
, Noun.
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.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low
estate
. Romans xii. 16.
2.
Social standing or rank; quality; dignity.
God hath imprinted his authority in several parts, upon several
estates
of men. Jer. Taylor.
3.
A person of high rank.
[Obs.]
She's a duchess, a great
estate
. Latimer.
Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief
estates
of Galilee. Mark vi. 21.
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.
See what a vast
estate
he left his son. Dryden.
5.
The state; the general body politic; the common-wealth; the general interest; state affairs.
[Obs.]
I call matters of
estate
not only the parts of sovereignty, but whatsoever . . . concerneth manifestly any great portion of people. Bacon.
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 commons7.
(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.
The fourth estate
, a name often given to the public press.
Es-tate′
,Verb.
T.
1.
To establish.
[Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
2.
Tom settle as a fortune.
[Archaic]
Shak.
3.
To endow with an estate.
[Archaic]
Webster 1828 Edition
Estate
ESTA'TE
,Noun.
1.
In a general sense, fixedness; a fixed condition; now generally written and pronounced state.She cast us headlong from our high estate.
2.
Condition or circumstances of any person or thing, whether high or low. Luke 1.3.
Rank; quality.Who hath not heard of the greatness of your estate?
4.
In law, the interest, or quantity of interest, a man has in lands, tenements, or other effects. Estates are real or personal. Real estate consists in lands or freeholds, which descent to heirs; personal estate consists in chattels or movables, which go to executors and administrators. There are also estates for life, for years, at will, &c. 5.
Fortune; possessions; property in general. He is a man of a great estate. He left his estate unincumbered.6.
The general business or interest of government; hence, a political body; a commonwealth; a republic. But in this sense, we now use State.Estates, in the plural, dominions; possessions of a prince.
1.
Orders or classes of men in society or government. Herod made a supper for his chief estates. Mark 6.In Great Britain, the estates of the realm are the king, lords and commons; or rather the lords and commons.
ESTA'TE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To establish. [Little used.]