Definition

Noun: 1. A historical representative assembly: The Estates General was the legislative and consultative assembly in France before the French Revolution, composed of representatives from the three traditional estates of the realm: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the commoners (Third Estate). 2. A specific historical event: The term often refers specifically to the 1789 meeting, which was a pivotal event leading to the Revolution.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The king summoned the Estates General in 1789 to address the financial crisis.
  • The voting procedures of the Estates General were a major point of contention for the Third Estate.

Advanced Usage

• "The calling of the Estates General": Refers to the act of convening this assembly, often highlighting it as a rare and significant political event in the .
  • The calling of the Estates General in 1789 unleashed forces the monarchy could not control.

Variants and Related Words

• Estate (n): In this historical context, one of the three orders of society (the clergy, the nobility, the commoners) represented in the Estates General.
  • The Third Estate demanded double representation.

Synonyms

• Assembly of the Estates: A direct descriptive synonym.
• States General: A direct translation and synonym used in some historical texts.

Related Phrases

• "The Third Estate": While a distinct term, it is intrinsically linked to discussions of the Estates General, referring to the commoner representatives.
  • The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly after deadlock in the Estates General.

Noun

1. assembly of the estates of all France; last meeting in 1789