Difference between revisions of "Definition: State" - New World Encyclopedia

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# Any [[sovereign]] [[polity]]. A [[government]].
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==Etymology==
#* '''20C''', Albert Einstein, as quoted by Virgil Henshaw in ''Albert Einstein: Philosopher Scientist'' (1949)
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From [[Middle English]] ''stat'' (as a noun); adopted c. 1200 from both Old French ''estat'' and [[Latin]] ''status'' (“manner of standing, attitude, position, carriage, manner, dress, apparel; and other senses”), from ''stare'' (“to stand”). Doublet of [[estate]] and [[status]].  
#*: Never do anything against conscience even if the '''state''' demands it.
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# A political division of a [[federation]] retaining a degree of autonomy, for example one of the fifty [[United States]]. See also [[province|Province]].
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==Noun==
# A condition.
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'''state''' (plural '''states''')
#: ''A '''state''' of being.''
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#: ''A '''state''' of emergency.''
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# A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.  
# Pomp, ceremony, or dignity.
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#: ''a '''state''' of being''
#: ''The President's body will lie in '''state''' at the Capitol.''
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#: ''a '''state''' of emergency''
# {{Template:Definition:computing}} The stable condition of a processor during a particular [[clock cycle]].
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## ([[physics]]) A complete description of a system, consisting of parameters that determine all properties of the system.
#: ''In the fetch '''state''', the address of the next instruction is placed on the address bus.''
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## (colloquial, in the singular) A mess; disorder; a bad condition or set of circumstances.  
# {{Template:Definition:computing}} The set of all parameters relevant to a computation.
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##: ''absolute '''state'''''
#: ''The '''state''' here includes a set containing all names seen so far.''
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##: ''in bit of a '''state'''''
# {{Template:Definition:computing}} The values of all parameters at some point in a computation.
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##(computing) The stable condition of a processor during a particular clock cycle.
#: ''A debugger can show the '''state''' of a program at any breakpoint.''
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##: ''In the fetch '''state''', the address of the next instruction is placed on the address bus''.
# {{Template:Definition:anthropology}} A society larger than a [[tribe]]. A society large enough to form a state in the sense of a government.
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## (computing) The values of all parameters at some point in a computation.
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##: ''A debugger can show the '''state''' of a program at any breakpoint''.
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## ([[science]]s) The physical property of [[matter]] as [[solid]], [[liquid]], [[gas]], or [[plasma]].
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# High social standing or circumstance.
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##Pomp, ceremony, or dignity.
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##: ''The President's body will lie in '''state''' at the Capitol''.
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## Rank; condition; quality.
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## Condition of prosperity or grandeur; wealthy or prosperous circumstances; social importance.
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# A [[polity]]. 
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## Any [[sovereign]] polity; a national or [[city-state]] [[government]].  
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## A political division of a federation retaining a notable degree of autonomy, as in the [[United States]], [[Mexico]], [[Nigeria]], or [[India]].
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# ([[mathematics]]) An element of the range of the random variables that define a random process.
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# ([[grammar]], [[semantics]]) The lexical aspect of verbs or predicates that do not change over time.  
  
 
====Derived terms====
 
====Derived terms====
 
* [[buffer state]]
 
* [[buffer state]]
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* [[change of state]]
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* [[deep state]]
 
* [[head of state]]
 
* [[head of state]]
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* [[nation-state]]
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* [[secretary of state]]
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* [[state capital]]
 
* [[state of affairs]]
 
* [[state of affairs]]
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* [[state of being]]
 
* [[state of emergency]]
 
* [[state of emergency]]
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* [[state of mind]]
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* [[state of the art]]
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* [[state park]]
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* [[state school]]
 
* [[statehood]]
 
* [[statehood]]
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==Verb==
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'''state''' (third-person singular simple present '''states''', present participle '''stating''', simple past and past participle '''stated''')
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# (transitive) To declare to be a [[fact]].
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#: ''He '''stated''' that he was willing to help''.
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# (transitive) To make known.
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#: '''''State''' your intentions''.
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===Usage notes===
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'''State''' is stronger or more definitive than say. It is used to communicate an absence of reasonable doubt and to emphasize the factual or truthful nature of the communication.
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{{Wictionary_credits|state|5503126}}
 
{{Wictionary_credits|state|5503126}}

Latest revision as of 16:04, 1 September 2023

Etymology

From Middle English stat (as a noun); adopted c. 1200 from both Old French estat and Latin status (“manner of standing, attitude, position, carriage, manner, dress, apparel; and other senses”), from stare (“to stand”). Doublet of estate and status.

Noun

state (plural states)

  1. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
    a state of being
    a state of emergency
    1. (physics) A complete description of a system, consisting of parameters that determine all properties of the system.
    2. (colloquial, in the singular) A mess; disorder; a bad condition or set of circumstances.
      absolute state
      in bit of a state
    3. (computing) The stable condition of a processor during a particular clock cycle.
      In the fetch state, the address of the next instruction is placed on the address bus.
    4. (computing) The values of all parameters at some point in a computation.
      A debugger can show the state of a program at any breakpoint.
    5. (sciences) The physical property of matter as solid, liquid, gas, or plasma.
  2. High social standing or circumstance.
    1. Pomp, ceremony, or dignity.
      The President's body will lie in state at the Capitol.
    2. Rank; condition; quality.
    3. Condition of prosperity or grandeur; wealthy or prosperous circumstances; social importance.
  3. A polity.
    1. Any sovereign polity; a national or city-state government.
    2. A political division of a federation retaining a notable degree of autonomy, as in the United States, Mexico, Nigeria, or India.
  4. (mathematics) An element of the range of the random variables that define a random process.
  5. (grammar, semantics) The lexical aspect of verbs or predicates that do not change over time.

Derived terms

  • buffer state
  • change of state
  • deep state
  • head of state
  • nation-state
  • secretary of state
  • state capital
  • state of affairs
  • state of being
  • state of emergency
  • state of mind
  • state of the art
  • state park
  • state school
  • statehood

Verb

state (third-person singular simple present states, present participle stating, simple past and past participle stated)

  1. (transitive) To declare to be a fact.
    He stated that he was willing to help.
  2. (transitive) To make known.
    State your intentions.

Usage notes

State is stronger or more definitive than say. It is used to communicate an absence of reasonable doubt and to emphasize the factual or truthful nature of the communication.


Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors copied and adjusted this Wiktionary entry in accordance with NWE standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit for this article is due to both New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions at Wiktionary is accessible to researchers here: