(a) A supervisor, an overseer; also, as surname; (b) a person designated by the testator to supervise in the execution of a will and to oversee the executors; also fig.; (c) a financial or administrative officer of some sort in a municipality, a manor, etc., perh. responsible for records and accounts; also, a designated witness to a business transaction [quot. c1436]; (d) a guild official responsible for examining and enforcing guild standards and practices; also, an official with similar supervisory duties in an academic faculty; ~ (of the faculte) of phisike; (e) a superintendent of customs inspections; also, the office of superintendent in the customs [last quot.]; also, an official inspector of purveyors [quot. 1472-5]; ~ of serches (the serche); (f) a royal officer appointed to superintend a specified department or piece of work; ~ of vitaile, ~ of (the kinges) werkes, etc.; (g) a household officer responsible for supervising the preparation and serving of food; also, the ceremonial overseer at a coronation feast [last quot.].