Middle English Dictionary Entry
sūtǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sūtǒur n. Also sutoure, suitour, seutour, sewetour, siutor, (gen.) suiteures & suter(e, souter, seuter; pl. sutours, etc. & soittures, sutteris. |
| Etymology | AF suitor, -our, -eur, sutour, -er, seutour, -er, siuter, siweter. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A follower, disciple; an adherent to the beliefs or methods of someone; also fig.; also, a member of a king's entourage, a retainer; (b) a pursuer; also fig.; (c) a frequenter, habitué.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)106b/b : Bedes opiniyoun was þat heuen is of fury kynde, as plato sette at his suytours [L sicut platonici posuerunt].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)121b/b : Þere is a greet ȝere..i-clepid annus mundanus..whanne alle þe sterris comeþ first to here owne place..þat þey were made inne..Plato and his suitoures telliþ þis ȝere comeþ aboute in xve. þousand ȝere.
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)292 : He þat hatiþ blamynge is sutere of þe fend, rebelle aȝens god.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.141 : Crist is everywhere bi his Godhede, and bi manheed wiþ his apostlis and her suters, til domesday.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)71/27 : Þay maken þe vttre ancle; Whos opposite, i. contrarie, saiþ William de Saliceto and his sutour [L sectator] Lamfranque.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)599/38 : Þe fifte fourme is Rogerynes and Iamerynes his sewetour [*Ch.(1): folower].
- a1450 Who þat liste loke (Stw 951)48/321 : Sche is bothe white and blak, now frend, now foo..How sche tourneth þe face hir sutoure fro.
- c1455 Spec.Miser.(Tak 32)731 : Yit for all this to bee sewtur to synne I lefte nowt but lyvede evele algate.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)23 : The Quenes servyse..must be nygh like unto the Kinges..accountyng the charges that shall rise by her as by resorting to her highnesse, bothe lordes and gentyls, and other comyn sutors.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)29 : Chauncellor of Englond, takith for his yerely fee out of the King's sellars..a dolium of wyne..for to shewe of wynes the more largesse unto the maisters of chancery, as to sewtors, straungers, and resorters to his householde.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)105a/a : Þe world..is besi & fondiþ to flee his sutours þat folewiþ [L sequaces] him.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)71 : So the Bere wold he nold he fled..The suters of this thyng ne bien thei nat of this vnremembred.
c
- c1300 SLeg.John (LdMisc 108)382 : For compaygnie he wax a syutor [Ashm: aseutour] of tauernes, and siwede to glotonie.
2.
(a) The initiator of a formal petition to a king, parliament, etc.; a petitioner; also fig. [quot. c1450]; (b) a plaintiff in a lawsuit.
Associated quotations
a
- (1414) RParl.4.59a : Worchepeful Sires, I Thomas Paunfeld..suytour of this Bille, beseche ȝow meekly, [etc.].
- (1424) Proc.Privy C.3.150 : That the clerc of the counseil be sworn that every day..he shal, as ferr as he can, aspye which is the porest suyteures bille, and that first to be redd and ansuered.
- (1429) RParl.4.344a : The Clerk of the Counseill..every day that the Counseill sitteth on any Billes betwix partie and partie..shal..loke which is the poverest sutours Bille, that furst to be rad and answerd.
- c1450 ?Suffolk O ye louers (Frf 16)9 : The god of loue..bygan his parlement..Wher wyt ye wele ys ryght an huge prese Of one and other sowters many on.
- c1500(a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(Cld A.8)157 : The kyng shal have herby grete rest, and be wele defended ageyn suche importune suters.
b
- (1454) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)364 : Þe same suter at þe complaynte of þe partie so sued be comaunded..to relinquisshe and withdrawe any suche sute or acc'on taken.
3.
A tenant obliged to attend manorial, hundred, or other court as a duty to his lord; a tenant who participates in such a court; also fig. [quot. c1450]; ~ of court.
Associated quotations
- (1416) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.54 : To the whiche courte of Benecrouche many of vs..haue ben tenantes and sevtours of Court.
- (1444) RParl.5.111a : The seid Shirref..in presence of..the suytours of the seid Countees than beyng there..duely assesse every Hundred..to a certeyn somme for to paie for the wages of the seid Knyghtes of the Shires.
- c1450(?a1400) Quatref.Love (Add 31042)405 : When we are callede to þat count [vr. courte], bi-houes vs to here: Þer all sall be soyttures, bothe þe bonde and þe free..When cryst will vs gadir.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)206/2 : Yf nede were, the sewters of the forsaid court shold come fully to the strengthe of the courte for the kyngis breef or writte ther to be demed at that tyme.
- (a1500) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8560 : Ye jugement of all maner of playnttes and consideraconys in ye sayd Burgag cowrte schall be gyffen and jugyd be ye sutterys of ye sayd cowrte.
4.
As surname [some quots. in souter(e n. may belong here].
Associated quotations
- (1206) Fine R.King John363 : Benedictus le Seuter.