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United States
1. The proper name or distinctive title of a confederacy, federation, or union of States.
In later use freq. construed as a singular.
a. The kingdom or republic of Holland, = the United Provinces (united ppl. a. 4). Also attrib. Now rare or Hist.
1617Moryson Itin. iii. 94 The Territory of Utrecht is also associated under the same United States. c1622Fletcher & Massinger Barnavelt v. iii, in Bullen O. Pl. II. 306 Do you hold the United States so tame to feare him? 1665Manley Grotius' Low C. Wars 929 By the publick and private colloquies of the United States people. 1779Hervey Nav. Hist. II. 168 The United States, overwhelmed with the expence of the war,..were extremely desirous of an accommodation.
b. The Republic of North America. Abbrev. U.S. or U.S.A. (Cf. state n. 31 c, d, and United Colonies united ppl. a. 4 a.)
1776Jrnls. Continental Congress (1906) VI. 865 Resolved, that the inhabitants of Canada, captivated by the United States..be released and sent home. 1781J. Adams Fam. Lett. (1876) 403 You will never have peace while the Britons have a company of soldiers at liberty within the United States. 1781–8in Bryce Amer. Commw. (1888) I. 569 The style of this Confederacy shall be, ‘The United States of America’. 1812Earl of Liverpool in Examiner 11 May 292/2 The United States had assumed a very warlike attitude. a1817T. Dwight Trav. New Eng., etc. (1821) I. 18 The United States have been regarded by this class of men as fair game. 1888Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 759/1 The United States..was anxious to establish what Great Britain was not disposed to grant.
attrib.1819G. Flagg Let. 12 June in Trans. Illinois State Hist. Soc. 1910 (1912) XV. 165 They settle on united States land. 1840(title), United States Digest. 1843Penny Cycl. XXVI. 13/2 The officers of the United States navy. 1875Jevons Money xix. 246 The United States government.
c. In other applications (see quots.).
1864Chambers's Encycl. VI. 734 New Granada (since 1858 the official designation has been The Granadian Confederation, and since 1862, The United States of Colombia). 1890Hazell's Annual 64/2 That the provinces of Brazil, united by federation, compose the United States of Brazil.
2. The form of English spoken in the United States of North America or regarded as distinctly American. to talk United States, to use strong language, to express oneself forcibly.
1891E. Roper Track & Trail ix. 134 Most of the ladies spoke decided ‘United States’; one was ‘Dutch’,..and one..had a decided British accent. 1898Hamblen Gen. Manager's Story x. 134 If he made any disparaging comments..I vowed to myself that I'd talk United States to him if I lost my job by it.
Hence United-ˈStatesian a., of or belonging to the United States of America; n., an inhabitant or citizen of the United States.
Also United Statesman (1850), and, in recent use, United Stateser.
1892N. & Q. 8th Ser. II. 146/2 To an outsider, say a Frenchman or a United-Statesian. 1897Westm. Gaz. 26 Aug. 3/3 The secret of the American or rather United-Statesian race.
Add:[1.] [d.] United States of Europe: Europe considered as a single political entity, formed by the union of its constituent states.
1869Beehive 18 Sept. 4/4 The Labour Question in Europe... ‘The United States of Europe’ is becoming an established phrase. 1914Contemp. Rev. CVI. 633, I am not proposing a United States of Europe, much less of the world. 1930W. S. Churchill in J. Colville Churchillians (1981) xiii. 206 The conception of a United States of Europe is right. 1940H. G. Wells New World Order §7. 104, I find most of these United States of Europe movements are now jumping on to the Federation band-waggon. 1990Times 13 Dec. 10/4 Economic and monetary union..would, the former chancellor..said last year, inevitably lead to the United States of Europe. |