not as in US, there's some other meanings.
In the Commonwealth of Great Britain, Esquire is legally a dignity and rank, though nowadays it is used as a polite form of address towards most men.
Tables of precedence invariably ended with the ranks of Esquire and Gentleman, in that order.
Until the 19th century, tables of precedences distinguished between "esquire by birth" and "esquire by office" (the same for "gentleman").
Occasionally, formal definition was implemented in determining who was entitled to the rank of "Esquire", as opposed to the rank of "Gentleman".
The use of Esquire (as Esq.) had become ubiquitous in the United Kingdom by the late 20th century, for example being applied by banks to all men who did not have a grander title.
Although the College of Arms continues to restrict use of the word Esquire in official grants of arms to some of those in the table above, it uses the term Esquire in all its correspondence, even to those who do not fall within any of the definitions in the table.
Many people in the United Kingdom no longer understand that there is any distinction between "Mr" and "Esquire" at all and so, for practical purposes and in everyday usage, there is no such distinction.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
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