Hist. Also 6 general states. [= F. états généraux, Du. staaten generaal.] A legislative assembly representing the three estates, viz. clergy, nobles, and commons or burghers of a whole realm, principality or commonwealth (distinguished from states provincial): a. in France before the Revolution; b. in the Netherlands from the 15th c. to 1796.
1585. J. Norris, in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1903), April, 317. The Councell established in this towne for the generall states. Ibid., 318. I haue deferred to send … myndinge to morrowe … to repaire to the states generall in Hollande.
1646. Howell, Lewis XIII, ii. 40. The Assembly of the States General.
1673. Temple, Observ. United Prov., ii. 75. As the States-General cannot make War or Peace … without the consent of every Province; so cannot the States-Provincial conclude any of those points without the consent of each of the Cities.
1677. Dryden, State Innoc., I. i. Most high and mighty Lords, who better fell From Heav’n, to rise States-General of Hell.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 345. A Rabble Is a Congregation, or Assembly of the States-General sent from their several and respective Shops, Stalls, and Garrets.
1792. A. Young, Trav. France, 108. They … assert that his letting the king go to the states-general, before their powers were verified,… was madness.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xv. 265. The States General answer to the parliament of the three estates.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., I. viii. 240. Under the command of the stadholder and the states-general.
