esquire English · revision 1064

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪˈskwaɪə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɛskwaɪɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|esquier]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|escuier|t=shield-bearer]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la-lat|scūtārius|t=shield-bearer]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) from [[la|scūtum|t=shield]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The same word, without its initial ''e-'', gave [[squire]].^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight (1374, Barnhart);^(Barnhart 1995) the OED's earliest quotations are for a young man of gentle birth who attended a knight and carried his shield (1475).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Originally the feudal rank below a knight,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) the word was extended in the 16th century into a general title of courtesy or respect.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) As a title written after a man's surname, usually abbreviated ''Esq.'', it is recorded from 1552–53.^(OED 1989) In the United States it became associated especially with lawyers,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and Random House notes that there it is used for lawyers of either sex.^(RHWU) From 1824 it also meant a man who escorts a lady in public.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1374 – a man ranking next below a knight (Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1460 – a member of the higher gentry below a knight.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1475 – an aspirant to knighthood who carried a knight's shield.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1552–53 – a title following a man's name.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1597 – a landed proprietor, a country squire.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1824 – a man who escorts a lady.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A title of courtesy written after a man's surname, usually abbreviated ''Esq.''; in the United States used especially for [[lawyer|alt=lawyers]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A member of the English [[gentry]] ranking just below a [[knight]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(historical)'' A candidate for knighthood who served a knight as attendant and shield-bearer.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A landed proprietor; a [[squire]].^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[squire]]

+ * [[escutcheon]]

+ * [[scutum]]

+ * [[equerry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}