9  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  State  \State\,  n.  [OE.  stat,  OF  estat,  F.  ['e]tat,  fr  L. 
  status  a  standing,  position,  fr  stare,  statum,  to  stand  See 
  {Stand},  and  cf  {Estate},  {Status}.] 
  1.  The  circumstances  or  condition  of  a  being  or  thing  at  any 
  given  time. 
 
  State  is  a  term  nearly  synonymous  with  ``mode,''  but 
  of  a  meaning  more  extensive,  and  is  not  exclusively 
  limited  to  the  mutable  and  contingent.  --Sir  W. 
  Hamilton. 
 
  Declare  the  past  and  present  state  of  things 
  --Dryden. 
 
  Keep  the  state  of  the  question  in  your  eye.  --Boyle. 
 
  2.  Rank;  condition;  quality;  as  the  state  of  honor. 
 
  Thy  honor,  state,  and  seat  is  due  to  me  --Shak. 
 
  3.  Condition  of  prosperity  or  grandeur;  wealthy  or  prosperous 
  circumstances;  social  importance. 
 
  She  instructed  him  how  he  should  keep  state,  and  yet 
  with  a  modest  sense  of  his  misfortunes.  --Bacon. 
 
  Can  this  imperious  lord  forget  to  reign,  Quit  all 
  his  state,  descend,  and  serve  again?  --Pope. 
 
  4.  Appearance  of  grandeur  or  dignity;  pomp. 
 
  Where  least  og  state  there  most  of  love  is  shown. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  5.  A  chair  with  a  canopy  above  it  often  standing  on  a  dais; 
  a  seat  of  dignity;  also  the  canopy  itself  [Obs.] 
 
  His  high  throne,  .  .  .  under  state  Of  richest 
  texture  spread.  --Milton. 
 
  When  he  went  to  court,  he  used  to  kick  away  the 
  state,  and  sit  down  by  his  prince  cheek  by  jowl. 
  --Swift. 
 
  6.  Estate,  possession.  [Obs.]  --Daniel. 
 
  Your  state,  my  lord,  again  in  yours  --Massinger. 
 
  7.  A  person  of  high  rank.  [Obs.]  --Latimer. 
 
  8.  Any  body  of  men  united  by  profession,  or  constituting  a 
  community  of  a  particular  character;  as  the  civil  and 
  ecclesiastical  states,  or  the  lords  spiritual  and  temporal 
  and  the  commons,  in  Great  Britain.  Cf  {Estate},  n.,  6. 
 
  9.  The  principal  persons  in  a  government. 
 
  The  bold  design  Pleased  highly  those  infernal 
  states.  --Milton. 
 
  10.  The  bodies  that  constitute  the  legislature  of  a  country; 
  as  the  States-general  of  Holland. 
 
  11.  A  form  of  government  which  is  not  monarchial,  as  a 
  republic.  [Obs.] 
 
  Well  monarchies  may  own  religion's  name  But  states 
  are  atheists  in  their  very  fame.  --Dryden. 
 
  12.  A  political  body,  or  body  politic;  the  whole  body  of 
  people  who  are  united  one  government,  whatever  may  be  the 
  form  of  the  government;  a  nation. 
 
  Municipal  law  is  a  rule  of  conduct  prescribed  by 
  the  supreme  power  in  a  state.  --Blackstone. 
 
  The  Puritans  in  the  reign  of  Mary,  driven  from 
  their  homes,  sought  an  asylum  in  Geneva,  where  they 
  found  a  state  without  a  king,  and  a  church  without 
  a  bishop.  --R.  Choate. 
 
  13.  In  the  United  States,  one  of  the  commonwealth,  or  bodies 
  politic,  the  people  of  which  make  up  the  body  of  the 
  nation,  and  which  under  the  national  constitution, 
  stands  in  certain  specified  relations  with  the  national 
  government,  and  are  invested,  as  commonwealth,  with  full 
  power  in  their  several  spheres  over  all  matters  not 
  expressly  inhibited. 
 
  Note:  The  term  State,  in  its  technical  sense  is  used  in 
  distinction  from  the  federal  system,  i.  e.,  the 
  government  of  the  United  States. 
 
  14.  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. 
  [Obs.] 
 
  Note:  When  state  is  joined  with  another  word  or  used 
  adjectively,  it  denotes  public,  or  what  belongs  to  the 
  community  or  body  politic,  or  to  the  government;  also 
  what  belongs  to  the  States  severally  in  the  American 
  Union;  as  state  affairs;  state  policy;  State  laws  of 
  Iowa. 
 
  {Nascent  state}.  (Chem.)  See  under  {Nascent}. 
 
  {Secretary  of  state}.  See  {Secretary},  n.,  3. 
 
  {State  barge}a  royal  barge,  or  a  barge  belonging  to  a 
  government. 
 
  {State  bed},  an  elaborately  carved  or  decorated  bed. 
 
  {State  carriage},  a  highly  decorated  carriage  for  officials 
  going  in  state,  or  taking  part  in  public  processions. 
 
  {State  paper},  an  official  paper  relating  to  the  interests  or 
  government  of  a  state.  --Jay. 
 
  {State  prison},  a  public  prison  or  penitentiary;  --  called 
  also  {State's  prison}. 
 
  {State  prisoner},  one  is  confinement,  or  under  arrest,  for  a 
  political  offense. 
 
  {State  rights},  or  {States'  rights},  the  rights  of  the 
  several  independent  States,  as  distinguished  from  the 
  rights  of  the  Federal  government.  It  has  been  a  question 
  as  to  what  rights  have  been  vested  in  the  general 
  government.  [U.S.] 
 
  {State's  evidence}.  See  {Probator},  2,  and  under  {Evidence}. 
 
 
  {State  sword},  a  sword  used  on  state  occasions,  being  borne 
  before  a  sovereign  by  an  attendant  of  high  rank. 
 
  {State  trial},  a  trial  of  a  person  for  a  political  offense. 
 
 
  {States  of  the  Church}.  See  under  {Ecclesiastical}. 
 
  Syn:  {State},  {Situation},  {Condition}. 
 
  Usage:  State  is  the  generic  term,  and  denotes  in  general  the 
  mode  in  which  a  thing  stands  or  exists.  The  situation 
  of  a  thing  is  its  state  in  reference  to  external 
  objects  and  influences;  its  condition  is  its  internal 
  state,  or  what  it  is  in  itself  considered.  Our 
  situation  is  good  or  bad  as  outward  things  bear 
  favorably  or  unfavorably  upon  us  our  condition  is 
  good  or  bad  according  to  the  state  we  are  actually  in 
  as  respects  our  persons,  families,  property,  and  other 
  things  which  comprise  our  sources  of  enjoyment. 
 
  I  do  not  brother,  Infer  as  if  I  thought  my 
  sister's  state  Secure  without  all  doubt  or 
  controversy.  --Milton. 
 
  We  hoped  to  enjoy  with  ease  what  in  our 
  situation,  might  be  called  the  luxuries  of  life. 
  --Cock. 
 
  And  O,  what  man's  condition  can  be  worse  Than 
  his  whom  plenty  starves  and  blessings  curse? 
  --Cowley. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  State  \State\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Stated};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Stating}.] 
  1.  To  set  to  settle;  to  establish.  [R.] 
 
  I  myself,  though  meanest  stated,  And  in  court  now 
  almost  hated.  --Wither. 
 
  Who  calls  the  council,  states  the  certain  day 
  --Pope. 
 
  2.  To  express  the  particulars  of  to  set  down  in  detail  or  in 
  gross;  to  represent  fully  in  words  to  narrate;  to  recite; 
  as  to  state  the  facts  of  a  case,  one's  opinion,  etc 
 
  {To  state  it}.  To  assume  state  or  dignity.  [Obs.]  ``Rarely 
  dressed  up  and  taught  to  state  it.''  --Beau.  &  Fl 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  State  \State\,  n. 
  A  statement;  also  a  document  containing  a  statement.  [R.] 
  --Sir  W.  Scott. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  State  \State\,  a. 
  1.  Stately.  [Obs.]  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  Belonging  to  the  state,  or  body  politic;  public. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Argillaceous  \Ar`gil*la"ceous\,  a.  [L.  argillaceus,  fr 
  argilla.] 
  Of  the  nature  of  clay;  consisting  of  or  containing,  argil  or 
  clay;  clayey. 
 
  {Argillaceous  sandstone}  (Geol.),  a  sandstone  containing  much 
  clay. 
 
  {Argillaceous  iron  ore},  the  clay  ironstone. 
 
  {Argillaceous  schist}  or  {state}.  See  {Argillite}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Construct  \Con"struct\,  a. 
  Formed  by  or  relating  to  construction,  interpretation,  or 
  inference. 
 
  {Construct  form}  or  {state}  (Heb.  Gram.),  that  of  a  noun  used 
  before  another  which  has  the  genitive  relation  to  it 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  state 
  adj  1:  supported  and  operated  by  the  government  of  a  state;  "a 
  state  university"  [syn:  {state-supported}] 
  2:  in  the  service  of  the  community  or  nation;  "state  security" 
  n  1:  the  group  of  people  comprising  the  government  of  a  sovereign 
  state;  "the  state  has  lowered  its  income  tax" 
  2:  the  territory  occupied  by  one  of  the  constituent 
  administrative  districts  of  a  nation;  "his  state  is  in  the 
  deep  south"  [syn:  {province}] 
  3:  a  politically  organized  body  of  people  under  a  single 
  government;  "the  state  has  elected  a  new  president"  [syn: 
  {nation},  {country},  {land},  {commonwealth},  {res  publica}, 
  {body  politic}] 
  4:  the  way  something  is  with  respect  to  its  main  attributes; 
  "the  current  state  of  knowledge";  "his  state  of  health"; 
  "in  a  weak  financial  state" 
  5:  the  federal  department  that  sets  and  maintains  foreign 
  policies;  "the  Department  of  State  was  created  in  1789" 
  [syn:  {Department  of  State},  {State  Department},  {State}] 
  6:  the  territory  occupied  by  a  nation;  "he  returned  to  the  land 
  of  his  birth";  "he  visited  several  European  countries" 
  [syn:  {country},  {land},  {nation}] 
  7:  (chemistry)  the  three  traditional  states  of  matter  are 
  solids  (fixed  shape  and  volume)  and  liquids  (fixed  volume 
  and  shaped  by  the  container)  and  gases  (filling  the 
  container);  "the  solid  state  of  water  is  called  ice"  [syn: 
  {state  of  matter}] 
  8:  (informal)  a  state  of  depression  or  agitation;  "he  was  in 
  such  a  state  you  just  couldn't  reason  with  him" 
  v  1:  express  an  idea,  etc  in  words  "He  said  that  he  wanted  to 
  marry  her";  "tell  me  what  is  bothering  you";  "state  your 
  opinion"  [syn:  {say},  {tell}] 
  2:  put  before  "I  submit  to  you  that  the  accused  is  guilty" 
  [syn:  {submit},  {put  forward}] 
  3:  indicate  through  a  symbol,  formula,  etc.;  "Can  you  express 
  this  distance  in  kilometers?"  [syn:  {express}] 
 
  From  Jargon  File  (4.2.3,  23  NOV  2000)  [jargon]: 
 
  state  n.  1.  Condition,  situation.  "What's  the  state  of  your 
  latest  hack?"  "It's  winning  away."  "The  system  tried  to  read  and 
  write  the  disk  simultaneously  and  got  into  a  totally  {wedged}  state." 
  The  standard  question  "What's  your  state?"  means  "What  are  you 
  doing?"  or  "What  are  you  about  to  do?"  Typical  answers  are  "about  to 
  gronk  out",  or  "hungry".  Another  standard  question  is  "What's  the  state 
  of  the  world?",  meaning  "What's  new?"  or  "What's  going  on?".  The  more 
  terse  and  humorous  way  of  asking  these  questions  would  be  "State-p?". 
  Another  way  of  phrasing  the  first  question  under  sense  1  would  be  "state-p 
  latest  hack?".  2.  Information  being  maintained  in  non-permanent  memory 
  (electronic  or  human). 
 
 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  state 
 
  architecture,  jargon,  theory>  How  something  is  its 
  configuration,  attributes,  condition,  or  information  content. 
  The  state  of  a  system  is  usually  temporary  (i.e.  it  changes 
  with  time)  and  volatile  (i.e.  it  will  be  lost  or  reset  to  some 
  initial  state  if  the  system  is  switched  off). 
 
  A  state  may  be  considered  to  be  a  point  in  some  {space}  of  all 
  possible  states.  A  simple  example  is  a  light,  which  is  either 
  on  or  off  A  complex  example  is  the  electrical  activation  in 
  a  human  brain  while  solving  a  problem. 
 
  In  computing  and  related  fields,  states,  as  in  the  light 
  example,  are  often  modelled  as  being  {discrete}  (rather  than 
  continuous)  and  the  transition  from  one  state  to  another  is 
  considered  to  be  instantaneous.  Another  (related)  property  of 
  a  system  is  the  number  of  possible  states  it  may  exhibit. 
  This  may  be  finite  or  infinite.  A  common  model  for  a  system 
  with  a  finite  number  of  discrete  state  is  a  {finite  state 
  machine}. 
 
  [{Jargon  File}] 
 
  (1996-10-13) 
 
 

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