ESQUIRE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

• ESQUIRE (noun)
  The noun ESQUIRE has 2 senses:

1. (Middle Ages) an attendant and shield bearer to a knight; a candidate for knighthood

2. a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name

  Familiarity information: ESQUIRE used as a noun is rare.

• ESQUIRE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(Middle Ages) an attendant and shield bearer to a knight; a candidate for knighthood

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("esquire" is a kind of...):

attendant; attender; tender (someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another)

Domain category:

Dark Ages; Middle Ages (the period of history between classical antiquity and the Italian Renaissance)

Domain region:

England (a division of the United Kingdom)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Esq; Esquire

Hypernyms ("Esquire" is a kind of...):

adult male; man (an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman))

Domain region:

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)

 Context examples 

It will be but the loss of the Esquire after his name.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

“T. Copperfield, Esquire,” said the ticket-porter, touching his hat with his little cane.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

However, I told him I was T. Copperfield, Esquire, and he believed it, and gave me the letter, which he said required an answer.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Among the votaries of TERPSICHORE, who disported themselves until Sol gave warning for departure, Wilkins Micawber, Esquire, Junior, and the lovely and accomplished Miss Helena, fourth daughter of Doctor Mell, were particularly remarkable.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The letter (Mr. Micawber never missed any possible opportunity of writing a letter) was addressed to me, “By the kindness of T. Traddles, Esquire, of the Inner Temple.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

““J. Steerforth, Esquire, debtor, to The Willing Mind”; that's not it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I commanded him, in my deepest voice, to order a veal cutlet and potatoes, and all things fitting; and to inquire at the bar if there were any letters for Trotwood Copperfield, Esquire—which I knew there were not, and couldn't be, but thought it manly to appear to expect.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)