Added 3 October 2026
state
/steɪt/ noun
In Latin: civitas First recorded: 16th century Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about state at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
a state of being
- A complete description of a system, consisting of parameters that determine all properties of the system.
-
A mess; disorder; a bad condition or set of circumstances.
absolute state
verb
adjective
Origin
From Middle English stat (as a noun); adopted c. 1200 from both Old French estat and Latin stātus (“manner of standing, attitude, position, carriage, manner, dress, apparel; and other senses”), from stāre (“to stand”). Doublet of estate and status. The sense of "polity" develops in the 14th century. Compare French être, Greek στέω (stéo), Italian stare, Portuguese estar, Romanian sta, and Spanish estar. The verb is first attested around the beginning of the 16th century. Related to English stand. Displaced native Old English hād (“state, condition”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)