the fourth estate

1 definition found

the fourth estate - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Estate \Es*tate"\ ([e^]s*t[=a]t"), n. [OF. estat, F. ['e]tat, L.
     status, fr. stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. State.]
     1. Settled condition or form of existence; state; condition
        or circumstances of life or of any person; situation.
        "When I came to man's estate." --Shak.
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              Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low
              estate.                               --Romans xii.
                                                    16.
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     2. Social standing or rank; quality; dignity.
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              God hath imprinted his authority in several parts,
              upon several estates of men.          --Jer. Taylor.
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     3. A person of high rank. [Obs.]
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              She's a duchess, a great estate.      --Latimer.
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              Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords,
              high captains, and chief estates of Galilee. --Mark
                                                    vi. 21.
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     4. A property which a person possesses; a fortune;
        possessions, esp. property in land; also, property of all
        kinds which a person leaves to be divided at his death.
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              See what a vast estate he left his son. --Dryden.
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     5. The state; the general body politic; the common-wealth;
        the general interest; state affairs. [Obs.]
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              I call matters of estate not only the parts of
              sovereignty, but whatsoever . . . concerneth
              manifestly any great portion of people. --Bacon.
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     6. pl. The great classes or orders of a community or state
        (as the clergy, the nobility, and the commonalty of
        England) or their representatives who administer the
        government; as, the estates of the realm (England), which
        are (1) the lords spiritual, (2) the lords temporal, (3)
        the commons.
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     7. (Law) The degree, quality, nature, and extent of one's
        interest in, or ownership of, lands, tenements, etc.; as,
        an estate for life, for years, at will, etc. --Abbott.
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     The fourth estate, a name often given to the public press.
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