Middle English Dictionary Entry
suffrā̆gā̆n n.
Entry Info
| Forms | suffrā̆gā̆n n. Also suffragane, suffragain, suffrigan, soffragan & suffragany; pl. suffragans, suffraganies, etc. & (error) suffrages. |
| Etymology | ML suffrāgāneus, -ānus n. & AF suffragan, var. of OF suffragant. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Any diocesan bishop in relation to the archbishop or metropolitan who is his superior; also fig. [quot. a1450]; (b) an assistant or a subsidiary bishop who performs episcopal functions for or in the absence of a diocesan bishop.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.115 : Þe bisshop of Meneuia was i-sacred of þe bisshoppes of Wales as of his owne suffrages [Higd.(2): suffraganes].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.115 : Þe primat of Ȝork haþ but tweie suffragans in Engelond, þat beeþ þe bisshoppis of Caerlile and of Duram.
- (1404) Doc.in Sur.Soc.45319 : I John..be for ȝow..William be ye gras of God byschop of Pharen and suffragany [?read: suffragayn] to..Richard be ye gras of God erchebischop of Ȝork..hete and a wo..yat fro hyne forwardys I sal kep my body in chastitee.
- (1440) Wars France in RS 22.2441 : His entent was never to do so greet derrogacion to the chirche of Caunterbury to make hem that were his suffrigans to sitte above thair ordinarie and metropolitan.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.190v : Of þe suffragannes longing to thes erchebisshopes and of hure sees the erchebisshop of Caunterbury of olde consuetude hadde these bisshoppes: of London, of Wynchestre, of Rouchestre, of Shirbourne, of Wyrchestre, of Hereford.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)31/19 : Holy chirche here in erþe is þe rewme of heuene, of þe whiche þe pope schulde be as suffragan..vndir God.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)55.194 (v.1:p.344) : Seven bisshops were suffraganyes to this blissid Dauid and his successours.., that is to seyn, Excestir, Bathe, Hereforth, Landaf, Bangor, Seynt Assa, and Fornense in Irelond.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)136/27 : Þe bischop of Cauntyrbury, Maistir Robert Wynchilseye, with all his suffraganes, cursed all hem þat schuld lette þe entent of þe barones.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.21 : This pope made a statute that noo metropolitan scholde condempne a suffragan but in the audience and siȝhte of conprovincialles and other bischoppes and suffraganes.
b
- (1425) Doc.in Sur.Soc.45325 : I Cecill..avowe to be chaste fro this tyme forward, in the presence of ȝow, holy fader, at this tyme suffragayn of the kirke off Ȝorke, be the commission and auctorite ȝiven ȝow of myne wurschipfull lordes, William the dean and the chapetre off Ȝork, the see of the erschebisshopryke beyng voyde.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.RMArticles (Corp-C 296)225 : Þat þei ben not maad bischopis of heþene men..& þanne meyntened to be suffragans & sellen sacramentis & robben þe peple.
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)349/76 : Þe bysschop honorat..gan to teche firmin..& suþþe he made him bysschop..& makid him his soffragan & in his stede prechour.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)1013 : Bishoppe, Marques, & erle coequalle; Vycount, legate, baroune, suffrigan, abbot.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)123a : A Suffragane: Coepiscopus.