Webster's English Dictionary

state

1. state \'sta-t\ n [ME stat, fr. OF & L; OF estat, fr. L status, fr. 
   status often attrib X, pp. of stare to stand - more at STAND 1a: mode or 
   condition of being {water in the gaseous ~} {~R of readiness} 1b1: 
   condition of mind or temperament {in a highly nervous ~}  1b2: a condition 
   of abnormal tension or excitement  2a: social position; esp : high rank  
   2b1: elaborate or luxurious style of living  2b2: formal dignity : POMP - 
   usu. used with in  3a: a body of persons constituting a special class in a 
   society : ESTA TE pl  3b: the members or representatives of the governing 
   classes assembled in a  legislative body obs  3c: a person of high rank (as 
   a noble)  4a: a politically organized body of people usu. occupying a 
   definite territ ory; esp : one that is sovereign 4b: the political 
   organization of such a body of people  5: the operations or concerns of the 
   government of a country  6: one of the constituent units of a nation having 
   a federal government { the United States of America} 7: the territory of a 
   state y a mode of existence but usu. implies the sum of the qualities 
   involved in a thing's existence at a particular time and place; CONDITION 
   more distinctly implies the influence of immediate or temporary 
   circumstances; SITUATION applies to a juncture of circumstances in which a 
   thing is placed rather than to its own state or character; STATUS implies 
   one's state as determined for legal administration or social consideration 
   SYN syn CONDITION, SITUATION, STATUS: STATE may impl 
2. state vt 1: to set by regulation or authority  2: to express the 
   particulars of esp. in words : REPORT; broadl y : to express in words