ETYM Old Fren. estat, French état, Latin status, from stare to stand. Related to Stand, State.
(medieval history) In European history, an order of society that enjoyed a specified share in government. In medieval theory, there were usually three estates—the nobility, the clergy, and the commons—with the functions of, respectively, defending society from foreign aggression and internal disorder, attending to its spiritual needs, and working to produce the base with which to support the other two orders.
When parliaments and representative assemblies developed from the 13th century, their organization reflected this theory, with separate houses for the nobility, the commons (usually burghers and gentry), and the clergy. The fourth estate is the press; the term was coined in the 18th century by the British politician Edmund Burke.
1. A major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country and formerly possessing distinct political rights; SYN. estate of the realm.
2. All of one's assets (whether real or personal property) and liabilities.
3. Extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use; SYN. land, landed estate, acres, demesne. + prikaži više

Practices that are handed down from the past by tradition.

ETYM Cf. Old Fren. enheritance.
1. A title or property that is inherited; SYN. heritage.
2. Any acquisition from past generations; SYN. heritage.
3. Any attribute that passes from parent to offspring; SYN. heritage.
4. Attributes acquired via biological heredity.

ETYM French séquence, Latin sequentia, from sequens. Related to Sequent.
1. A following of one thing after another in time; SYN. chronological sequence, succession, successiveness, chronological succession.
2. A succession of related shots that develop a given subject in a film; SYN. episode.
3. Arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern.
4. Several repetitions of a melodic phrase in different keys.
In music, a device allowing key modulation favored by early keyboard composers in which a phrase is repeated sequentially, each time transposing to a different key. + prikaži više

ETYM Latin successio: cf. French succession. Related to Succeed.
1. The action of following in order; SYN. sequence.
2. (Ecology) The gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established; SYN. ecological succession.
3. A group of people or things arranged or following in order.
4. Acquisition of property by descent or by will; SYN. taking over.
In ecology, a series of changes that occur in the structure and composition of the vegetation in a given area from the time it is first colonized by plants (primary succession), or after it has been disturbed by fire, flood, or clearing (secondary succession).
If allowed to proceed undisturbed, succession leads naturally to a stable climax community (for example, oak and hickory forest or savannah grassland) that is determined by the climate and soil characteristics of the area. + prikaži više