Status

• 1. Pathology. a. The height or acme of a disease: cf. STATE n. 7 and STATION n. 6. Now rare or Obs.

b. Used (with the sense ‘state or condition) in many mod.L. combinations with adj., as status arthriticus, epilepticus, lymphaticus, nervosus: see Dorland's Illustr. Med. Dict. 1913. status asthmaticus, the condition of a patient during a prolonged severe asthmatic attack; also ellipt., = status epilepticus.

• 2. a. Law. The legal standing or position of a person as determined by his membership of some class of persons legally enjoying certain rights or subject to certain limitations; condition in respect, e.g., of liberty or servitude, marriage or celibacy, infancy or majority.

b. In application to things.

• 3. a. Position or standing in society, a profession, and the like. Also social status.

b. transf. of a thing.

• 4. a. Condition of things.

b. Finance. A particular grouping of the conditions bearing on the continuance of an annuity.

c. Sc. Comm. Position (of a trader) in respect of solvency and credit. In quot. attrib.

• 5. a. attrib. or as adj. That confers prestige on its possessor; having a high social status; superior.