Middle English Dictionary Entry
caiser n.
Entry Info
| Forms | caiser n. Also -ar(e, -our, keiser, kasar, (early) cæiser, (dat.) kaiseren. |
| Etymology | OHG keisar (corresp. to OE cāsere) & MHG keiser (whence also OI keisari). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A Roman emperor, a Caesar; ~ of Rome.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3519 : Chæs he to wurþenn mann O þatt Keȝȝseress time.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8738 : Julium, þene kæisere, mid alle þan Romanisce here.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26364 : Þu ært kæisere [Otho: caiser] of Rome.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)35/374 : Nerun, þe riche keiser of rome.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)3 : Constantin & Maxence weren on ane time, as in keiseres stude, hehest i Rome.
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)222 : Stronke he hauit iwereþit to þe caisare.
2.
(a) Emperor, ruler; lord, master; ~ and king; (b) preceding the name of a ruler; (c) of God: the Lord; ~ of kinges, king of kings.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)20199 : Childric wes i þan daȝen cæiser of riche laȝen inne Alemaine.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24470 : Þa comen þa biscopes alle..biuoren Arðure..þer feouwer kinges eoden biuoren þan kaiseren [Otho: þan kaysere].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25372 : Of Spaine þe kaisere [Otho: caiser] Meodras, of Medie þe king Boccus.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)38/20 : [S]athanas..is keiser & king, icrunet of us alle.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)30/280 : Ich iseh þe apostles..ȝarowe forte demen, i þe dei of dome, kinges & keiseres [Tit: keisers].
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)220 : Ne may no kayser ne no kyng his vertues alle telle.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)977 : It was neuere man..Þat so wel semede, King or cayser forto be.
- a1350 Weping haueþ (Hrl 2253)43 : Nys kyng, cayser, ne clerk wiþ croune Þis semly seruen, þat mene may seme.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)1595 : For king ne kaiser..Ne sheltow leue no lenger.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)483 : Wel kud kinges & kaysers krauen me inow.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3359 : Yon es mi lauerd ysaac; Yon es þi [vr. þe] keiser sal be þin.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9409 : Adam [was]..Ouer all þis werld king and kaiser [Ld: keyzar].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7484 : Alisaunder, riche caysere, Þou ne haste..no pere.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.134 : No man so worthi To be kaisere or kynge of þe kyngedome of iuda.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)882 : In þis world es nane swa witty..Emperour, kyng, duke, ne caysere.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1894 : We hafe cownterede..With kyngez and kayseres.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)123/15 : Kayssaris in castellis grete kyndynes me kythes.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)343 : He schal..dwelle with caysere, kynge, & knyth.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)173/134 : Þer is no lord lyke..to me..nother kyng nor kayser in all þis worlde.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)147/220 : That prynce..shall ouer com in hy kasar and Kyng.
- a1500 Trental St.Greg.(2) (Hrl 3810)225 : For kynges ne caisoure, I wil hennce wende.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)20221 : Nolde Baldolf abide þan keisere Childriche.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)6/13 : Þe kayser Lowis of Bauere.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)10/1 : He liueð..in his kinedom, keiser of kinges.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)271 : Þu art kid keiser þat al þis werld wrahtes.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)38a : Hire schuppere, þe scheop hire efter him seolf, þet is king & keiser of eorðe & of heouene [Nero: King & Kaiser of heouene & of eorðe].