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third estate

SEE SYNONYMS FOR third estate ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the third of the three estates or political orders: the commons in France or England. Compare estate(def 5).

Origin of third estate

First recorded in 1595–1605

Words nearby third estate

third cranial nerve, third cuneiform bone, third degree, third dimension, third ear, third estate, third eye, third eyelid, third fibular muscle, third finger, third force

Example sentences from the Web for third estate

"The simplicity of English customs," and the customs of the Third-Estate seem to them better adapted to ordinary life.

The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6) |Hippolyte A. Taine
Tacitly or expressly, the Third-Estate refuses to restrict its mandate and allows no barriers to be interposed against it.

The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6) |Hippolyte A. Taine
What could be more fascinating for the man of the Third-Estate?

The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6) |Hippolyte A. Taine
As the Third-Estate, it must be noted, is the sole class making and saving money, nearly all these creditors belong it.

The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6) |Hippolyte A. Taine

Why should the Third-Estate alone pay for roads on which the nobles and the clergy drive in their carriages?

The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6) |Hippolyte A. Taine

British Dictionary definitions for third estate

third estate

noun

the third order or class in a country or society divided into estates, esp for representation in a parliament; the commons, townsmen, or middle class