Middle English Dictionary Entry
commissārie n.
Entry Info
| Forms | commissārie n. Also comissarie & commissair, -are, -ere, -our. |
| Etymology | L commissārius & OF comissaire. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The representative of a superior authority to whom certain duties are delegated with power to act: (a) a representative (of God, Reason, etc.); (b) a delegate or commissioner of a ruler or a body politic; ~ special; (c) a legate or representative of the pope, a bishop, etc.; ~ general; (d) the vice-chancellor of Oxford University; ~ general.
Associated quotations
a
- (1395) Wycl.12 Concl.(Th 17)301 : Þei seyn þat he ben commissariis [L commissarios] of God to deme of euery synne.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)10548 : We make yow our commyssarye..to don ryht Wher ye sen that most ys nede.
b
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.154 : Paulines peple for playntes in Constorie Schal seruen my-self, þat Siuile hette..Cart-sadele vr Comissarie vr Cart he schal drawe.
- (1398) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)8.54a : Sire William..Sire Jon..Knyghtis..Commissairs of..the Kyng of Scotland.
- (1399) RParl.3.424a : All the States of this Londe were ther gadyrd..and her Commissaries..adjugged ȝowe for to be deposed and pryved..of the Astate of Kyng.
- (1419) Proc.Privy C.2.259 : To be called before yow or ellis before the Kynges commissaries.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)41 : The States and the Cominalte off the Rewme..deputyd and ordeynyd certeyn commyssaries..that they shulde there yeve and bere opyn sentence to the kyngis deposicion.
- (1442) RParl.5.44b : Ye Commissaries of the saide Roialmes, assigned to here and redresse attemptates done ayenst the fourme of trieux.
- (1464) Stonor1.67 : Oure seid sovereyn lordez deputeez and commissarez..and the..ambassiatour and Comyssarye of the..prynce Lowes of Fraunce.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)70/16 : Iohn Cudington..his commissarie special.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)144 : That the townys..be..delyveryd to the sayde kyngys, or to hyr comyssoures and deputes.
c
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.234 : In þe constorie bifor þe comissarie he cometh nouȝt ful ofte, For her lawe dureth ouer-longe.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)133/1 : In þis chirche ben pleetars, lawiars, sequestreris, comissarijs..þat sellen trouþe.
- (1421) Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113170 : Ye Bisshop of Duram..ye Abbot of Seynt Mari Abbay of York, yt wer comissare of my lorde ye Archebisshop of York in yt convocacion.
- (1434) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23184 : Commissare generall.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick186 : Our chauncelere and commyssarie, visytyng by our autoritee you and your saide place.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxv : Take we heede to þe popes & cardinals..delegates & commyssaries.
- (1480-82) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.32148 : Paid to the Commissarie to have the May money of parsons wife to entre it in the corte, x d.
- 1486 Rec.St.Mary at Hill6 : I woll that the saide Preest..be chosen and presented to the Officiall of my lord the Archedeken of london or to his commyssary.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)780/3 : Nomina Ecclesiasticorum..Hic comissarius: a comissere.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)577 : Yf it be the generallis letter or sele, or his commissaries.
d
- (c1453) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35319 : Thomas Sawnders..Commissarie generall in the Universite of Oxonforde of Master George Nevell, Chauncellere.
- (1455) Lin.DDoc.77/2 : The Chaunceler of Oxford..or his commissary.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)347/15 : Thomas Chaundelere, Commyssary of the vnyuersite of Oxenford.