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.
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.]
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 bargea 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. 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.
State (?), a. 1. Stately. [Obs.] Spenser.