esquire

noun

es·quire | \ˈe-ˌskwī(-ə)r,

i-ˈskwī(-ə)r

\

Definition of esquire

1 : a member of the English gentry ranking below a knight

2 : a candidate for knighthood serving as shield bearer and attendant to a knight

3 —used as a title of courtesy often by attorneys usually placed in its abbreviated form after the surname John R. Smith, Esq.

4 archaic : a landed proprietor

History and Etymology for esquire

Middle English, from Anglo-French esquier squire, from Late Latin scutarius, from Latin scutum shield; akin to Old Irish sciath shield

Middle French escuier squire, from Late Latin scutarius shield bearer, from Latin scutum shield

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esquire's helmet

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The first known use of esquire was in the 15th century

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esquire

noun

es·quire | \ˈes-ˌkwīr

\

Legal Definition of esquire

—used as a title of courtesy for lawyers usually placed in its abbreviated form after the name and capitalized John R. Smith, Esq. Jane L. Smith, Esq.

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