Adjacent Words

Esquire definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ESQUI'RE, n. [L. scutum, a shield; Gr. a hide, of which shields were anciently made.], a shield-bearer or armor-bearer, scutifer; an attendant on a knight. Hence in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below a knight. In England, this title is given to the younger sons of noblemen, to officers of the king's courts and of the household, to counselors at law, justices of the peace, while in commission, sheriffs, and other gentlemen. In the United States, the title is given to public officers of all degrees, from governors down to justices and attorneys. Indeed the title, in addressing letters, is bestowed on any person at pleasure, and contains no definite description. It is merely an expression or respect.
ESQUI'RE, v.t. To attend; to wait on.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (Middle Ages) an attendant and shield bearer to a knight; a candidate for knighthood
2: a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name [syn: Esquire, Esq]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French esquier squire, from Late Latin scutarius, from Latin scutum shield; akin to Old Irish sciath shield Date: 15th century 1. a member of the English gentry ranking below a knight 2. a candidate for knighthood serving as shield bearer and attendant to a knight 3. — used as a title of courtesy usually placed in its abbreviated form after the surname <John R. Smith, Esq.> 4. archaic a landed proprietor

Britannica Concise

U.S. monthly magazine, founded in 1933 by Arnold Gingrich. It began as an oversized magazine for men that featured a sophisticated style and drawings of scantily clad young women. It later abandoned its titillating role but continued to cultivate the image of affluence and refined taste. It pioneered the treatment of unconventional topics and feature stories and attracted a general-interest audience with pieces by well-known writers. In the 1940s, because of its early notoriety, it was the object of an ultimately unsuccessful court case challenging its worthiness for mailing privileges at desirable rates. Esquire has in recent years largely ceased to publish the kind of fiction and nonfiction that once made it distinctive.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 (usu. as abbr. Esq.) Brit. a title appended to a man's surname when no other form of address is used, esp. as a form of address for letters. 2 archaic = SQUIRE. Etymology: ME f. OF esquier f. L scutarius shield-bearer f. scutum shield

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Esquire Es*quire", n. [OF. escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer, F. ['e]cuyer shield-bearer, armor-bearer, squire of a knight, esquire, equerry, rider, horseman, LL. scutarius shield-bearer, fr. L. scutum shield, akin to Gr. ? skin, hide, from a root meaning to cover; prob. akin to E. hide to cover. See Hide to cover, and cf. Equerry, Escutcheon.] Originally, a shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a knight; in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below knight and above gentleman; also, a title of office and courtesy; -- often shortened to squire. Note: In England, the title of esquire belongs by right of birth to the eldest sons of knights and their eldest sons in perpetual succession; to the eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their eldest sons in perpetual succession. It is also given to sheriffs, to justices of the peace while in commission, to those who bear special office in the royal household, to counselors at law, bachelors of divinity, law, or physic, and to others. In the United States the title is commonly given in courtesy to lawyers and justices of the peace, and is often used in the superscription of letters instead of Mr.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Esquire Es*quire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Esquired; p. pr. & vb. n. Esquiring.] To wait on as an esquire or attendant in public; to attend. [Colloq.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Esquire is a formal title that can be used after a man's name if he has no other title, especially on an envelope that is addressed to him. (OLD-FASHIONED) N-TITLE

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Squire.

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