Middle English Dictionary Entry
soverain adj.
Entry Info
Forms | soverain adj. Also soveraing, -eing, -ine, -ing, sovrein, soferain(e, -ein, sofferain & souveraine, -aign, sufferain, -en, suffreine & (15th cent.) soverent, soffarond, (N) soferand, sufferante, -ende, suffraind; sup. soverainest, etc. & soverainst, (error) soverienst; pl. soverein(e)s. |
Etymology | OF soverain(e, sovrain, sofrain, souverain, souverein, souvragne, AF suverain(e, suvraine; for forms with -t(e and -d(e cp. ME auncien(t adj., sǒun n., etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: For other forms see soverain n.
1.
(a) Of a person: outstanding in some respect, excellent; distinguished, renowned, worthy; ben ~, to be preeminent; ben ~ to his plesaunce, be very pleasing to him; (b) of something, a quality, virtue, an act, office, etc.: principal, paramount, supreme, chief; highest, greatest, most notable, foremost of its kind; excellent; ~ cite (se), a capital city, chief center; ~ pes, a state of complete peace; ~ place, the most prominent place, place of honor; ~ pris, a sterling reputation; ~ stile, noble style; haven in ~ worshipe, to hold (sb.) in the highest regard; (c) ~ god, god most ~, soverainest god, the greatest good, summum bonum; bok of soverainest god, the Sententiae of Isidore of Seville, also known by the title De Summo Bono; (d) of a remedy, medicinal preparation, an herb, etc.: efficacious, very potent; of food: nourishing, tasty; also fig.; of fish bait: good, effective; for a ~ help to him-self, for his own part, as far as he is concerned; (e) ?as a general intensifier: great, severe, grievous.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)518 : Eche lord of þis lond is lef him to plece For most souereyn seg & semlyest of þewes.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3285 : Of Hercules the souereyn conquerour Syngen hise werkes laude and heigh renoun.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.12.8 : Alle the membris han not the same acte..he that techith, in techinge..he that is byfore, or souereyn [L qui præest], in bisynesse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4537 : O Gaufred, deere maister souerayn..Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore..for to chide as diden ye?
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)35 : Therfore, sith these two souereyn apostlis [Peter & Paul] re[s]treynen not this veniaunce, we owen not restreyne it.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.33.23 : In alle thi werkis be thou souereyn [WB(1): beforn passende; L præcellens].
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)9/33 : Comytte þe cure of thi bodi to þe souereyne leche.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)16/6 : For as wille souerayne astronomiez and astrologiens, þat is to sey, Ptholomeus, Pictagoras, Rasis, and Haly..A cyrurgien ow noȝt for to kutte or brenne..whiles þe mone is in a signe gouernyng..þat membre.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2788 : Pasiphe..To his plesance..was most souerayne.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)358 : He was the souerayneste sir..Þat euer any segge saughe.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)66/26 : Meede..be þe enchauntementis þat sche couthe, of þe which she was a souereyne maistres, made charmes & lerned Jason to enchaunte.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)18b : Dyoclician and Maximian..chesen to hem þese tweye legiouns as for þe soueraynest fiȝteres.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)986 : Lord..Þat we doun is þy dede..who so doþ by anoþer Schal be soferayn hym-self.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.De Prof.(LdMisc 683)57 : Sampson, of strengthe whilome most souereyn, Brake the gatys of Gaza the Cyte.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)113/12 : Þe perfeccioun of þe fore-sayd science ys ȝeuyn to a souerayn [Sloane: hyest; Ashmole: high] doctour of þe olde philosophers, Philomen, Meistre of Phisonomy.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6492 : A souerain seruand of þe same prinse Segh his maistur at mischefe amonges his fos.
b
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)2/5 : Of all the creatures that god made..The soueraigne cause and the skill whi that he made thaime Was his owen gode will and his godenesse.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3339 : At Babiloigne was his souereyn see In which his glorie and his delit he hadde.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.111 : Fro þat tyme forþ þe kyng [Canute] hadde Englisshemen in sovereigne [Higd.(2): grete; L summo] worschippe.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.67 : Euere moore he hadde a souereyn prys.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.574 : Alle the souereyn actes..Of victories in the olde testament..Were doon in abstinence and in prayere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.91 : Of alle tresoun, souereyn [vrr. suffreyn, suffreine] pestilence Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2530 : Paris stod with faire Eleine, Which was his joie sovereine.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.158 : For sorcerie is þe souerayn [B: souereyne] bok þat to þat science longiþ.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1383 : Grekis..made..a woful crye, Þe deth compleynyng..Of her lord and myȝty gouernour..Her chefe socour and souereyn refut.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3203 : Lok on the book that Iohn Bochas made..And directe be ful souereyn style To fayr Iane.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)2/3 : Soche one..haþ..purposed him to be a parfite folower of Criste, not only in actyue leuyng bot in þe souereinnest pointe of contemplatife leuing.
- a1425 LOL (Wnds E.I.I)59/10 : Þe Romanis werin set in souerein pees & axeden of Appolin hou longe þilke pees shulde endure.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.138 : But that that nys nat parfit, men mai seen apertely that it nys not sovereyn [L summum].
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)1/2 : Þe Haly Land amanges all oþer landes es þe maste worthy land and souerayne of all oþer.
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)71/22 : With..souereigne afforcinge and continuel besynes, vs byhoueth lerne..by what manere..we mowe shone þe peyne of helle.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)254 : The god Priapus saw I, as I wente, Withinne the temple in sovereyn [vrr. soveren, soueraygn] place stonde.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)410 : Vpon whos heede now ffresshely done shyne Two riche crovnes most sovereyn [vr. sovereing] off plesaunce.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)34/6 : Pymalion..made an ymage after a womman of souereyne beaute.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)73/27 : The godhede..is sufferayn myght, sufferayne wisdome, sufferayne goodnesse.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)75/18 : To kepe the fro synne..ware a soferayne & a goode occupacion.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)9/238 : Without yowre helpe to deth þus am y dight, Myn only ioye and soueryne hertis blis.
- c1450 NPass.(Add 31042)166/627* : Alle þat þay dide for dyshonoure alle was it goddis suffrayne honoure.
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30227 : My suffrayn trust is in you.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)89/5 : Whan that Vaspasian had..destrued that rial cite of Ierusalem, the souereine cite of alle the Iuree..then he remeued with his hole host.
- a1475(c1450) Shirley SSecr.(Add 5467)311/8 : For the moste soueraynst wisdom is vertue that a kynge may have to gouerne and rule hym.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)156/12 : Fabius was a dictatour, whiche was the moste souerayn [F souverain] offyce of Rome.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)1036 : Pyte Gode plesyth grettly, Ande yt ys a vertu soueren, as clerkys rede.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)2/7 : Wherfore lete oure souereyn studie be in þe lif of Ihesu crist.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)1769 : Whiche is þe souerienst [read: sovereinst] thing To man or beest?
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1125 : Iff it be worship & wit wisdom to shewe, Hit [is] sothely more soueran to see it in werke.
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.2.38 : Some folk ther ben that holden that ryght hey power be sovereyn good [L summum bonum].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.123 : Thanne..moten we nedes granten..that thilke same sovereyn good be God?
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)129/7 : For alle þinges ben gode and parfiȝt, maad of me, þat am moost souereyne good.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)126 : Þe hool man whos soule is departid fro þe body may not..haue his natural eende and his souereyn good but if his soule now departid come aȝen to a body and be joyned as a soule to þe body in making þerby a man.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.222 : Þe goode it wynneth be perfeccioun Of vertu, whiche is mene kyndely Þat souereyn goode schulde be wonne by.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)79/4 : Bi hem [deeds of moral virtue] he schal be acceptid to reioce his natural eend or his blisful eend and his souereynest good.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)5900 : O gret Good most souereyn [F souverain] Sholde..Make a thyng ffor to be ful.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxviii : Þis seiþ Ysodre in þe first boke of souereynest good in þe capitle of antecrist.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)4.8 : Thai ere draghen in many fald wricchidnes and fantoms withouten end..swa that a souereyn goed thai may noght se.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1392 : The tenthe sterre is Almareth..His Ston is Jaspe, and of Planteine He hath his herbe sovereine.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)227a/b : Hey þat groweþ in somdel hih place..is more souereigne [L magis sapida] to bestis þan oþer heye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.159 : A raton of renon, most renable of tonge, Seide for a souereygne help to hym-selue, [etc.].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.370 : Contricioun..is þe souereynest salue for alkyn synnes.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.4.51 : Syn the sovereyne [vr. soueryn; L praecipua] cure of al mortel folk is to saven hir owene lyves, O how weleful artow, if thow knowe thy goodes!
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)95b/b : It is a souereine emplaster in þis case.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)184a/a : Gordonius techeþ a souereine oynement for þe scalle.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)393/24 : Þe comunete haldeþ oyle of tartir moste souerayne [L supremum].
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)6 : It is a souereyn medicyn to putte alle temptaciouns and tribulaciouns awey.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)203/10 : Þis name 'iesu'..is souereyn medicyne to alle þese goostli feuers or sikenessis.
- a1450 Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)7/253 : Fastynge is..a profitable refute and to deuoute praier a souereyn fode.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)184 : Þis oynement is a souerein medecyne for sciatica.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)171/12 : Ye schall angul to hym [salmon]..especially with a souerent bayt þat bredyt yn þe watur sokul.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)224/2 : To abstene þee frome to miche eting and superfluite is þe souereine medecyne generally.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)1011 : Contrycyon ys a soueren remedy That dystroythe synnys.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)197/4 : Oryson is Souerayn remedy in euery trybulacion.
e
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.John (Yk-M 14.D.2:Hudson)75/62 : Oure soule owiþ to be fillid euere wiþ souereynst sorewis for defaute of uertues in cristen briþeren.
2.
(a) Having superior or supreme power or rank; -- often used in honorific title for or address to a royal personage: your ~ noblenesse (sire), etc.; also, sup. soverainest as noun: the most powerful man; demen ~ to other, to deem (sb.) superior to (another); maken ~ on, put (a governor) in charge over (a people); (b) of God, Christ, the Virgin Mary: all-powerful, supreme; -- freq. in epithet or direct address with ref. to one or another aspect or function of God, Christ, Mary, or a pagan deity: ~ being (juge, leche, techere, etc.); ~ fader (lord, sire, etc.); oure ~ ladie; also, sup. soverainest as noun: the highest order of angels; (c) of a cleric, religious superior, etc.: highest, supreme; also in polite address to a cleric: ~ lord (sire); ~ pope; (d) as an epithet for or in address to one's liege lady: ~ ladie, ladie ~; sup. most soverainest as noun: the most sovereign lady.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3954 : I sette ȝou for no soudiour but for souerayn lord, to lede al þis lorldschip as ȝou likes euer.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1048 : Mercy..my souereyn lady queene; Er that youre court departe, do me right.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Phil.2.3 : In humelnesse deme ȝe eferich man sofereyn to oþer.
- (1419) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)80/33 : You..ar our most gracious & most souueraign lord.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.17.15 : On ech folk he made souereyn [WB(1): beforn sette; L præposuit] a gouernour.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.5.54 : They rejoyssen hem to putten undir hem the sovereyne [L Summos] kynges.
- (c1447) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35261 : Besechyng..þt ȝe lyk to be good menes to owr soveryng lord the Kyng.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3097 : Was noȝt Sexes him-selfe þe souereynest [Dub: soueranest] in erth?
- (1452) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1277 : The yer regne of our sofferayne lorde the Kyng.
- (1456-7) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.p.55 : Hit is ordeigned..that John Jay and Harry Chestour..shall ben discharged of all maner of reperacions of londes..as well of the..tenementz hold by theym of oure Soueraing lord the Kyng.
- (1459) RParl.5.369b : The seid Lord had sent his servaunt to oure Soverayne Lady the Quene.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.5b : That it be ordeyned..that the seid sommes..so gadered..be..put in sure and sauf gard, in Castell, Towne..or other place..by wrytyng endented to be made betwene the seid Collectours and the soverayn Ruler or Keper of such Castell, Towne..or other place.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)129 : Such an enterprise is the more ffeseable when such a rebell hath more riches than his souerayne lorde.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)8 : Crist is..heiar wiþ out comparisoun þan ani pope, þan þe king is souereyn to ani ȝerle or duke.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)122/11 : Now y here translate to youre Souerayne nobilnes the boke of arystotle.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)65/22 : Take tent to me, youre soferand syre.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.405 : Mem. that oure Souerygne lady the Quene hathe yeffen to the Maire..xij bukkys.
b
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)34 : Preostes and presidens preised als peere, Of whom vr souerein [vr. soueren] lord sawes gan say.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.186 : He, which is king sovereign Of al the worldes governaunce..And his godhede also be plesed.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1454 : Salamon sete him..Wyth alle þe syence þat hym sende þe soverayn Lorde.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.67 : Thanne moot it nedis be that verray blisfulnesse is set in sovereyn [L summo] God.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)56/26 : Þai schall com..before Godd, þe souerayne Iugge.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)241/3 : What wrecche am I þat þou, souereyn eendelees fadir, vouchistsaaf to schewe to me þi sooþfastnes?
- c1440(?a1400) ?Nassyngton Trin.& U.(Thrn)170 : The Ensence þat þe was offerde nexte, Be-takyns þat þou art souerayngne priste.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)21 : Þe soule seeþ how ech a creature haþ his beyng, of him þat is souereyn being, þat is God.
- a1450(?1419-20) Topias (Dgb 41)80/246 : Þere finde we holy angels..diuidid in ordres nyne; Seraphin, he is þe souereynest.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)61/163 : Gude god, oure suffraynd syre, Sall ordayne it in goode degre.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)257/22 : Gabriel..com in-to þe presence of þe Fadur of heven, and..a-fore is most soueryn maieste, he seid on þis wise, [etc.].
- c1450 Worschip of (Eg 3307)p.190 : To worschip George than haue we ned, Whych is our souereyn Ladys knyght.
- c1460 Dub.Abraham (Dub 432)273 : A, sufferen Lord, þi wille be fulfilled In hevyn, in erþe, in watyr and clay!
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)29/23 : Ryth sovereyn fadyr..euer we thank ȝow in hert, body, and thowth.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)39/28 : It is forto louȝe vs silf vndir god in conceyt..and to hiȝe god fer above vs in alle þese seid maners as oure..souereynest lord.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)496 : Ther is no God, Iesu, but thou allone, Souerynest, and eke most mercyfull.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.193 : He stod at þe barre aforn þe souereyn iuge.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.296 : God ȝaf þe ten comandementis to þe peple as souereyn techere and as souereyn leche.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)47/21 : Souerayn god [L deus excelsus] sent his Angel to hym.
- a1500 Qwan crist was borne (StJ-C S.54)43 : We..offyr..myre al so in tokenyng þat he is ueri man and kyng, Soffarond prins ouyr all thyng.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)40 : O Mynos, thow Iuge souereyne, Yeue thy cruell iugement ageyn thys traytour.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)189/22 : God ssel..keste his greate manzinge ase þe heȝe bissop an souerayn pope.
- (a1432) Let.in Burton Hemingbrough383 : To my sufferante lorde Prior of Durham, [etc.].
- (a1436) Let.in Burton Hemingbrough392 : Most reverent and sufferende Syr, I comaunde me to ȝow os a servande till hys lord, lattyng ȝow wit yt ya fyfte vicary in ȝor colleg kyrke of Hemmyngburgh es wacone.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)9709 : Sadoke was made soueran hed and als byschope stably forto stand.
- (1464) RParl.5.518a : Prejudiciall to any Archebisshop..Bisshop..Abbot and Convent..Priour and Convent..Prioresse..or to any other Soverayne Ministr', Hede, or Governer..of any Hous of Religion.
d
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1072 : Vouche sauf in swich manere To graunte me my souereyn [vr. souereigne] lady deere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2378 : I thanke ȝow..Myn hertis quene and lady souereyne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.316 : O my Criseyde, O lady sovereigne.
- a1450 As ofte (Tan 346)47 : So ofte..to me moste souereyneste, For you y sigh, and oftyr, for your sake.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)252 : Wher is become..your awayting..Upon me, that ye calden your maistresse, Your sovereyne lady in this world here?
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)215 : O herte swete, O lady sovereyne [vr. souuerayne]!
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)72/25 : At that tyme sir Trystrams ys takyn with his soveraigne lady.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)124/27 : Myne owne soverayne lady..and welth of myne herte..I suppose ye erren.
3.
(a) Lofty; in-to the ~ dai, into the upper daylight; (b) celestial, heavenly; astron. & astrol. ~ centre (pointe), the fixed center about which circles or spheres revolve; ~ pole, the northern or southern pole of the celestial sphere; ~ signes, the signs of right ascension, Cancer through Sagittarius, each supposed to dominate the sign diametrically opposite it.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Prov.8.2 : Whether wisdom crieth not ofte..In souereyneste [WB(1): heȝest; L summis] and hiȝ coppis, aboue the weie, in the myddis of pathis, and it stondith bisidis the ȝate of the citee.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.12.69 : This fable apertenith to yow alle whosoevere desireth or seketh to lede his thought into the sovereyn day [L in superum diem].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.6.5,11 : Byhoold the heightes of the sovereyn hevene..the sterre yclepid the Bere..enclyneth his ravysschynge coursis abowte the sovereyn [F souveraine] heighte of the world.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.3.10 : O thou maystresse of alle vertues [Philosophy], descended from the sovereyne [L supero] sete, whi arttow comen into this solitarie place of myn exil?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.5.2-4 : Whoso that ne knowe nat the sterres of Arctour, ytorned neygh to the sovereyne centre or poynt [L summo cardine] (that is to seyn, ytorned neygh to the sovereyne pool of the firmament).
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.2.24 : In the sovereynes [vr. souereyns; L supernis] devynes substaunces (that is to seyn, in spiritz) jugement is more cleer, and wil nat icorrumped, and myght redy to speden thinges that ben desired.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.28.38 : The signes of right ascencioun ben fro the heved of Cancer unto the ende of Sagittarie; and these signes arisen more upright, and thei ben called eke sovereyn signes.
4.
As adv.: greatly, to a great degree, highly; very much; also, translating L super- in combs.: ~ clerest, that which is supremely bright; ~ shininge, supremely shining; ~ substancial, surpassing substance, transcendent; ~ substancialli, so as to transcend substance; ~ unknouen, exceeding all knowledge.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) Dionysius HDivinity (Hrl 674)2/15,18 : Þou vnbigonne & euerlastyng Wysdome..arte þe souereyn-substancyal [L supersubstantialis] Firstheed..I beseche þee for to drawe us up in an acordyng abilnes to þe souereynvnknowen and þe souereyn-schinyng [L superignotum et supersplendentem] heiȝt of þi derke inspirid spekynges.
- a1425(?a1400) Dionysius HDivinity (Hrl 674)2/20-21 : Alle þe pryue þinges of deuinytee ben kouerid and hid vnder þe souereyn-schinyng [L supersplendentem] derknes of wisest silence, makyng þe souereynclerest [L superclarissimum] souereynly for to schine priuely in þe derkyst.
- a1425(?a1400) Dionysius HDivinity (Hrl 674)5/27, 30-31 : In þis souereyn-schining [L superlucenti] derknes we prey to be done up..and souereyn-substancialy [L supersubstantialiter] for to preise, bi doing awey of alle þees beyng þinges, hym þat is souereynsubstancial in himself.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.527 : This noble Mark..was in armys soueryn synguleer.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)351/39 : O þou..vnspekabil pite, how souereyn swete and likyngely þese organes sowne in þe eeres of hym þat is sorowful!
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.106 : Without licence it may not be Of my goddis whom I loue souereyn, And as they woll, I shall aggree.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)145/26 : Qwo-som-euer of ȝow wil be souereynmost of degree, he schal ben as mynester.
Note: ?New form (superlative).
Note: Ed.: "'souereynmost' adj. super. highest, greatest."