Esquire vs. Exquire — What's the Difference?

Esquire (, US also ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, Esquire historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman and below the rank of knight.

(obsolete) To search into or out.

A polite title appended to a man's name when no other title is used, typically in the address of a letter or other documents

To search into or out.

A young nobleman who, in training for knighthood, acted as an attendant to a knight.

A man or boy who is a member of the gentry in England ranking directly below a knight.

Abbr. Esq. Used as an honorific usually in its abbreviated form, especially after the name of an attorney or a consular officer

Chiefly British A barrister-at-law.

In medieval times, a candidate for knighthood who served a knight as an attendant and a shield bearer.

(Archaic) An English country gentleman; a squire.

A lawyer.

A male member of the gentry ranking below a knight.

An honorific sometimes placed after a man's name.

A gentleman who attends or escorts a lady in public.

(archaic) A squire; a youth who in the hopes of becoming a knight attended upon a knight

(obsolete) A shield-bearer, but also applied to other attendants.

(heraldry) A bearing somewhat resembling a gyron, but extending across the field so that the point touches the opposite edge of the escutcheon.

To attend, wait on, escort.

Originally, a shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a knight; in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below knight and above gentleman; also, a title of office and courtesy; - often shortened to squire.

To wait on as an esquire or attendant in public; to attend.

(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