in a state—(followed by Infinitive) fit for smth.; mentally ready to do smth.:
- He went on thinking of her till he was almost in a state to drown himself in the little brook.
in state—
1. with great pomp and ceremony:
- If he represented a first-class paper and wished to “save his face” he had better travel in state.
2. (of a dead body) ceremoniously exposed to view before burial (in the phrase “lie in state”):
- It was in this chamber he breathed his last; here he lay in state.