esquire
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Related to esquire: maxim
es·quire
(ĕs′kwīr′, ĭ-skwīr′)n.
1. A man or boy who is a member of the gentry in England ranking directly below a knight.
2. Abbr. Esq. Used as an honorific usually in its abbreviated form, especially after the name of an attorney or a consular officer: Jane Doe, Esq.; John Doe, Esq.
3. Chiefly British A barrister-at-law.
4. In medieval times, a candidate for knighthood who served a knight as an attendant and a shield bearer.
5. Archaic An English country gentleman; a squire.
[Middle English esquier, from Old French escuier, from Late Latin scūtārius, shield bearer, from Latin scūtum, shield; see skei- in Indo-European roots.]
esquire
(ɪˈskwaɪə)n
1. chiefly Brit a title of respect, usually abbreviated Esq, placed after a man's name
2. (Historical Terms) (in medieval times) the attendant and shield bearer of a knight, subsequently often knighted himself
3. rare a male escort
[C15: from Old French escuier, from Late Latin scūtārius shield bearer, from Latin scūtum shield]
es•quire
(ˈɛs kwaɪər, ɛˈskwaɪər)n.
1. (cap.) a title of respect sometimes placed, esp. in its abbreviated form, after a man's surname in formal written address: in the U.S., chiefly applied to lawyers, women as well as men. Abbr.: Esq., Esqr.
3. a man belonging to the order of English gentry ranking next below a knight.
4. Archaic. squire (def. 1).
[1425–75; late Middle English esquier < Middle French escuier < Latin scūtārius shield bearer =scūt(um) shield + -ārius -ary]
esquire
- At its root, it means "shield bearer (in service to a knight)," from Latin scutarius.See also related terms for knight.
esquire
Past participle: esquired
Gerund: esquiring
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| Noun | 1. | esquire - (Middle Ages) an attendant and shield bearer to a knight; a candidate for knighthoodEngland - a division of the United Kingdom Dark Ages, Middle Ages - the period of history between classical antiquity and the Italian Renaissance |
| 2. | Esquire - a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name Britain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom adult male, man - an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman); "there were two women and six men on the bus" |
Translations
esquire
esquire - (Middle Ages) an attendant and shield bearer to a knight; a candidate for knighthood