State Means a Condition and a Country
A state is a condition, a country, or a formal ceremony. All three come from the Latin for standing.
A state is a condition something is in, a political territory, or ceremonial dignity. Latin *status* meant a way of standing, and the political sense grew through the idea of a ruler's standing or position — *the state of the prince* eventually became simply *the state*. Machiavelli's use of Italian *stato* in the 1500s helped fix the modern meaning. *In state* keeps the ceremonial sense, as in lying in state, and *stately* means impressively dignified.
- A condition. *A poor state of repair.*
- A country or region. *A member state.*
- Ceremony. *Lying in state.*
- To say formally. *State your name.*
- Latin — *status*, a standing. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | state | The state. |
| Plural | states | States. |
| Verb | state | State it. |
| Adjective | stately | Stately. |
| Noun | statement | A statement. |
- The house is in a poor state.Condition.
- Fifty states form the union.Politics.
- He lay in state for three days.Ceremony.
The status family
- State — a standing or condition
- Status — the same word, borrowed unchanged
- Statue — something standing
- Estate — through French, property and social standing
- Stable — standing firm
Old French *estat*, from Latin *status*, a way of standing or condition, from *stare*, to stand.
Why does state mean both a condition and a country?
From Latin status, a standing. The political sense grew from the ruler's standing or position, which became the state itself.
Are state and estate the same word?
Yes, doublets. Estate came through French and kept the sense of property and social standing.