Middle English Dictionary Entry
prēfect n.
Entry Info
| Forms | prēfect n. Also prefette. |
| Etymology | OF prefect, prefet & L praefectus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A person in a position of civil or military authority; a governor, magistrate, chief, an overseer, etc.; (b) a Roman civil or military official.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Esd.6.29 : Of þe trauaile of þe tributis of cirie, choeles, & fenyces, diligently a quantite to ben ȝyuyn to þese men, to þe sacrifise of þe lord, to sorobabel, prefect [L præfecto].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.1.3 : Þe þridde þanne ȝeer of his empire he made a gret feste..to þe prefectis of prouyncis beforn hym.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 11.28 : Salamon, seeynge þe ȝonge waxen man of good wyt & hable to ben tauȝt, he maade hym a prefect [WB(2) adds: ether souereyn] vp on þe lynagis of al þe hous of Joseph.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 22.9 : Þi seruauntis bleewyn togidere þe monee..& han ȝifen þat it be delid to þe wriȝtis of þe prefectis [WB(2): souereyns] of þe werkis of þe temple of þe lord.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 27.1 : Þe sones, forsoþe, of israel, after þer noumbre, princes of meynes, lederis of thousendis & lederis of hundredis, & þe prefectis þat serueden to þe king..weren to foure & twenti thousend.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.2.48 : The kyng..ordeynyde hym vpon alle prouyncis of Babiloyne prince and prefect [WB(2) adds: ether cheef iustise], and maister vpon alle wijse men of Babiloyne.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)3 Kings 4.7 : Salomon hadde twelue prefectis [WB(1): ouerseers], ether cheef minystrys, on al Israel, that ȝauen lijflode to the kyng and to his hows.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1850 : Al the poweer of Parthos tho kam doun, With many prefect in that mortal rage.
b
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.362 : The sergeantz of the toun of Rome..hem biforn Almache, the prefect [vrr. prouost, president, propheete] broghte.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.369 : Oon Maximus, that was an officer Of the prefectes [vrr. Prefectis, prefectus; Presidentis], and his corniculer Hem hente.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.13 : Alisaundre suffred deth in Adrianus his tyme, ȝit þo was nouȝt Adrianus emperour, but on caas consul oþer prefect [Higd.(2): some oþer gouernoure; L præfectus].
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)64/180 : Men of Melan To þe prefecte of Rome senden þan.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.4503 : Wher is also the grete extorsioun Off consuleris and prefectis oppressyng?
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.296 : Macrinvs aftir..cam doun, Whilom a prefect in Roome, the cite, Of the Pretoire, and be invacioun Cam to the imperial famous dignite.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)436 : On-to Antyoche A tyraunnt, the prefect of that cuntre, From Asiaward proudly dede aproche.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)16b : Þey couþe schewe in presence of þe prefette of þe legioun or elles of þe princes of þe oost þat he were ful lerned in alle þe dedes of armes þat schulde long to a kniȝt.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)34a : The moste propre iustice and iuge of þe legioun is þe prefecte, þat is, meir of þe legioun, þe whiche haþ þe principal dignite of þe firste ordre of þe legioun.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)35b : Þe oost haþ also wiþ ynne hem in eueriche legioun men of craft..And þe principal heed of [vr. or] þe rewelour of þis meyne was þe prefecte or þe meyr of þe carpuntry.