Sc. Law. Also 5–7 compeirance, 6–7 comperance. [a. F. comparance, -ence, f. comparoir to COMPEAR: subseq. assimilated to the latter; cf. APPEARANCE.]
1. The action of compearing, or formally presenting oneself in court as a party to a cause.
1427. Sc. Acts Jas. I. (1597), § 101. Of them of ilk Schire, that awe compeirance in Parliament or Councel.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 16. Williame, Bruther to King Malcolme … and of his Comperance befoir King Henrie of Ingland tueiching Northumberland.
1663. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1829), 30. For his not compearance, both he and the rest who did not compear were put to the horn.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xiv. ‘The justice took the word o’ the tane for the compearance o’ the tither.’
1884. Brit. & For. Evang. Rev., Oct., 679. Compearance before the delegates from the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr.
† 2. Appearance (of many together). rare.
1667. H. More, Div. Dial., V. xxxviii. (1713), 517. The whole Skie was filled with Myriads of Myriads of Shapes in this great Compearance.
