state

{{11}}state (n.¹) early 13c., "circumstances, temporary attributes of a person or thing, conditions," from L. status "manner of standing, position, condition," noun of action from pp. stem of stare "to stand" from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see STET (Cf. stet)). Some M.E. senses are via O.Fr. estat (Fr. état; see ESTATE (Cf. estate)). The Latin word was adopted into other modern Germanic languages (e.g. Ger., Du. staat) but chiefly in the political senses only. Meaning "physical condition as regards form or structure" is attested from late 13c. Meaning "mental or emotional condition" is attested from 1530s (phrase state of mind first attested 1749); colloquial sense of "agitated or perturbed state" is from 1837.

He [the President] shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient. [U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section iii]

{{12}}state (n.²) "political organization of a country, supreme civil power, government," 1530s, from STATE (Cf. state) (n.¹); this sense grew out of the meaning "condition of a country" with regard to government, prosperity, etc. (late 13c.), from L. phrases such as status rei publicæ "condition of the republic." Often in phrase church and state, which is attested from 1580s.

The sense of "semi-independent political entity under a federal authority" (as in the United States of America) is from 1856; the British North American colonies occasionally were called states as far back as 1630s. The states has been short for "the United States of America" since 1777; hence stateside (1944), World War II U.S. military slang. State rights in U.S. political sense is attested from 1798; form states rights is first recorded 1858.

{{12}}state (v.) 1590s, "to set in a position," from STATE (Cf. state) (n.¹); the sense of "declare in words" is first attested 1640s, from the notion of "placing" something on the record. Related: Stated; stating.