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Definition state

Etymology

Adopted c. 1200 from both Old French estat and Latin status (�manner of standing, attitude, position, carriage, manner, dress, apparel; and other senses�), from stare (�to stand�). Doublet of estate and status. The sense of "polity" develops in the 14th century. Compare French �tre, Greek ???? (st�o), Italian stare, Portuguese estar, Romanian sta, and Spanish estar.

Noun

state (plural states)

1. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
   1. (physics) A complete description of a system, consisting of parameters that determine all properties of the system.
   2. (computing) The stable condition of a processor during a particular clock cycle.
   3. (computing) The set of all parameters relevant to a computation.
   4. (computing) The values of all parameters at some point in a computation.
   5. (sciences) The physical property of matter as solid, liquid, gas or plasma.
   6. (obsolete) Highest and stationary condition, as that of maturity between growth and decline, or as that of crisis between the increase and the abating of a disease; height; acme.
2. High social standing or circumstance.
   1. Pomp, ceremony, or dignity.
   2. Rank; condition; quality.
   3. Condition of prosperity or grandeur; wealthy or prosperous circumstances; social importance.
   4. A chair with a canopy above it, often standing on a dais; a seat of dignity; also, the canopy itself.
   5. (obsolete) A great person, a dignitary; a lord or prince.
   6. (obsolete) Estate, possession.
3. A polity.
   1. Any sovereign polity; a national or city-state government.
   2. A political division of a federation retaining a notable degree of autonomy, as in the United States or Germany.
   3. (obsolete) A form of government other than a monarchy.
   4. (anthropology) A society larger than a tribe. A society large enough to form a state in the sense of a government.
4. (mathematics, stochastic processes) An element of the range of the random variables that define a random process.
5. (grammar, semantics) The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that do not change over time.

Verb

state (third-person singular simple present states, present participle stating, simple past and past participle stated)

1. (transitive) To declare to be a fact.
2. (transitive) To make known.

Adjective

state (comparative more state, superlative most state)

1. (obsolete) stately