What is the meaning of the word 'esquire'?

Answer

(Middle Ages) an attendant and shield bearer to a knight; a candidate for knighthood a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight; placed after the name wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Esquire (abbreviated Esq.) was originally a title for the sons of nobles and gentry who did not possess any other title. However, today the term is often used instead of Mr on official documents and in formal correspondence. It is linked to the word squire which refers to a knight's servant. There is no female equivalent for the social form. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esquire

Esquire is a magazine for men owned by the Hearst Corporation. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esquire_(magazine)

Formerly an armor bearer or attendant upon a knight. digiserve.com/heraldry/pimb_e.htm

French for Squire. See also Chronique: The Journal of Chivalry #8. www.chronique.com/Library/Glossaries/glossary-KCT/gloss_e.htm

™ is a trademark of Hearst Communications, Inc. www.sfae.com/services/infodesk/termsofuse.html

1) a candidate for knighthood, from esquier, akin to Fr. ecuyer and It. scudiero. 2) in Great Britain, a member of the gentry ranking below a knight; squire. 3) in some English-speaking countries, title of courtesy placed after a man's name. 4) an armigerous gentleman. www.regalis.com/glossary.htm

A member of the English gentry who ranks just below a knight. It also refers to a candidate for knighthood who serves as an attendant to a knight, and carries his arms, as opposed to an armiger, who is entitled to wear his own arms. Someone who holds an office from the crown such as a Justice of the Peace, a sheriff, or a judge. An attorney who has graduated from law school and passed the bar.(modern use) landed proprietor, or landed gentry. ... freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~randyj2222/gendicte.html

Answer

Current usage: In the United States it is used professionally to identify a person as an attorney, both female and male. The term esquire has a different meaning in English law. It was used to signify a title of dignity, which ranks above gentleman and directly below knight and is now used as a title for barristers, sheriffs and judges.