Estate (&ebreve_;stāt), 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.
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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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