Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- The bodies that constitute the legislature of a country, in contradistinction to the assemblies of provinces; specifically [capitalized], the name given to the legislative assemblies of France before the revolution of 1789, and to those of the Netherlands.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun In France, before the Revolution, the assembly of the three orders of the kingdom, namely, the clergy, the nobility, and the third estate, or commonalty.
- noun In the Netherlands, the legislative body, composed of two chambers.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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Just at the very time in life when this illusion had not been destroyed by the realities of life, and without the experience which might have taught the futility of idle dreams and theories, he was elected to the states-general.
Olbermann leaves Kos 2010
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These states-general have not been convoked since that time.
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The states-general of Sweden have a custom still more honorable to humanity, which is not found among any other people.
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This parliament of England is only a perfected imitation of certain states-general of France.
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The states-general of Denmark took quite a contrary resolution in 1660; they deprived themselves of all their rights, in favor of the king.
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The greatest and most singular example of these states-general is the Diet of
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Scarcely had Philip le Bel summoned the commons to the states-general, before Edward, king of England, adopted the like measure, in order to balance the great power of the barons.
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The states-general in France have not been assembled since 1613, and the cortes of Spain lasted a hundred years after.
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The states-general of the Ottoman Empire are the janissaries and cavalry; in Algiers and Tunis, it is the militia.
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The second states-general of Europe are those of Great Britain.
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