Etymology
1. c.1225, "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 base
*sta- "to stand" (see stet). Some M.E. senses are via O.Fr.
estat (Fr.
état; see estate). The L. word was adopted into other modern Gmc. languages (e.g. Ger., Du.
staat) but chiefly in the political senses only. Meaning "physical condition as regards form or structure" is attested from c.1290. Meaning "mental or emotional condition" is attested from 1538 (phrase
state of mind first attested 1749); colloquial sense of "agitated or perturbed state" is from 1837.
"He 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]
2. Etymology tree
3. Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-
4. Proto-Indo-European *-tus
5. Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂-tu-s ~ *sth₂-téw-s
6. Proto-Italic *status
7. Latin statuslbor.
8. Old French estatbor.
9. Middle English stat
10. English state
11. From Middle English stat (as a noun); adopted c. 1200 from both Old French estat and Latin stātus (“manner of standing, attitude, position, carriage, manner, dress, apparel; and other senses”), from stāre (“to stand”). Doublet of estate and status. The sense of "polity" develops in the 14th century. Compare French être, Greek στέω (stéo), Italian stare, Portuguese estar, Romanian sta, and Spanish estar. The verb is first attested around the beginning of the 16th century. Related to English stand. Displaced native Old English hād (“state, condition”). See: French '
être', Italian '
stare', Portuguese '
estar', Romanian '
sta', Spanish '
estar', English '
stand'.
Verbs referencing "state"
Spanish
estar, Italian
stare.