Also 5–7 -our, (-itor). [a. AF. conservatour = F. -ateur (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. conservātōr-em keeper, n. of action f. conservāre to CONSERVE. Johnson, Walker, Smart (1849), and others accent conservā·tor; the earlier form after F. was conse·rvător.
1. One who preserves from injury; a preserver, guardian, keeper, custodian.
1417. Hen. V., in Rymer Fœdera (1710), IX. 630. We wol have Conservatours for his party.
1678. Lively Oracles, V. § 32 (1684), 299. The Christian Church … is the guardian and conservator of holy writ.
1700. Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 927. To be the Conservators of the Publick Liberties.
1713. Derham, Phys. Theol., V. xvi. 259. The infinite Conservator of the World.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. 446. The real conservators of the wealth were the priests.
1859. Holland, Gold F., ix. 108. Connubial love, as a conservator of the youthful feeling of the soul.
1871. Browning, Pr. Hohenst., 303. A conservator, call me, if you please, Not a creator nor destroyer: one Who keeps the world safe.
† b. A thing that preserves; pl. glasses for preserving the sight. Obs. exc. as fig. of prec.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8779. Oþer maters … Conseruatours by craft, þat cointly were made.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., II. 143. Of cold and moist conservatour flyntstone is.
1547–64. Bauldwin, Mor. Philos. (Palfr.), IX. iv. Faith is both the originall and principall constitutor and conservator of the weale publike.
1597. Lowe, Chirurg. (1634), 172. He must … use conservatours of greene glasse.
c. The official custodian or keeper of a building, museum, etc.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), II. 364. Under the Corps de Logis is the capital prison. In the conservator’s apartments … are two celebrated statues.
1835. Kirby, Hab. & Inst. Anim., I. Introd. 104. The conservator and assistant-conservator of the museum.
2. In various titles official or descriptive.
1425. Ord. Whittington’s Alms-house, in Entick, London (1766), IV. 354. The keepers of the commonally of the craft of mercers to be called conservators of the … house.
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 380. To be called conservitors or kepers of the articles of this seid yelde.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 159. Bishop of the cite of Rome, and Conseruator of the crysten feith.
1540–1. Elyot, Image Gov., 56. He ordeyned … according to the Counsayle of Plato, certaine persons, whiche were named Conservators of the weale publike.
a. 1626. Bacon, New Atl. (1650), 3. He was warned by the Conservatour of Health, of the City, that he should keepe a distance.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. xxxv. 235. The conservators of the city … told us, they were not a whit sorry for the licence granted.
1853. Felton, Fam. Lett., xxvi. (1865), 237. The conservator of antiquities has given me free admission to the Acropolis for a year.
1889. W. Lockhart, Ch. Scot. in 13th Cent., 118. He was known in the assembly … as Conservator of the Council.
b. Conservators of the peace (Custodes pacis): applied in a general sense, to the Sovereign, Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Lord High Constable, the Justices of the King’s Bench, Master of the Rolls, etc. spec. The Wardens of the Peace appointed in 1327; the precursors of the Justices of the Peace, created with extended powers in 1360.
[1330. Act 4 Edw. III., c. 5. Devant les gardeins de la pees.]
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 488. A mercyfull kynge, of peas conseruatour, The thirde Edwarde.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., I. iii. (1588), 13. Wardeins or Conseruators of the Peace.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 77.
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 364. Magistrates in their publick and politick Capacity … by the Ordinance of God Conservators of the Publick Peace.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 350.
1815. Scott, Guy M., vii. Since our friend’s advancement to be a conservator of the peace he had caused the gate … to be newly hung and handsomely painted.
1848. Wharton, Law Lex., s.v., The coroner is also a conservator of the peace within his own county, as is also the sheriff; so are the constables, tything-men, and the like.
1862. H. Cox, Instit., III. ii. 592. The sovereign is … the principal conservator of the peace of the kingdom.
1875. J. Curtis, Hist. Eng., 146. At the commencement of the reign of Edward III. … It was ordained by parliament that conservators of the peace should be appointed.
c. Conservators of a river: persons having charge of a river, its embankments, weirs, creeks, etc., and supervision of the fisheries, navigation, watermills, etc., thereon. Cf. CONSERVACY.
In 13 & 17 Rich. II., they are called Conservatours des Estatuz, Conservators of the Statutes (touching the taking of Salmon, etc.). But the (later) title of the latter Act is De Conservatoribus Aquæ Thamisiæ.
1490. Act 4 Hen. VII., c. 15. The Maior of the Citie of London … is conseruatour, hauing the conseruation of the water and riuer of Thames.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 573. Ye mayre and his bretherne the aldermen, as conseruatours of that ryuer … opteyned commyssion to pull vp all the werys that stode atwene London and .vii. myles beyonde Kyngston, and … atwene London and Grauysende.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 234. Conservatour of the Thamyse.
1697. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 241. A long tryall between the town of Newcastle (as conservators of the river Tyne) and the dean and chapter of Durrham.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4714/4. The Conservators of the River Tone.
1852. Humber Conservancy Act, 2028. It shall be lawful for the Lords of the Admiralty to appoint a Conservator.
1881. Times, 7 April, 9/5. How far the duties of the Conservators are to extend beyond providing the mere mechanical precautions against floods.
† d. Conservator of Truce and Safe Conducts: an officer appointed in a sea-port ‘to enquire of all offences done against the King’s Truce and Safe Conducts, upon the main sea, out of the liberties of the Cinque Ports’ (Cowell). Obs.
[1394. Lett. Rich. II., in Rymer, Foedera, VII. 765/2. Conservatores dictarum treugarum pro parte sua deputet, et eos onus conservatiæ hujusmodi in se assumere … compellat.
1414. Act 2 Hen. V., c. 6. Et que en chacun port de meere soit fait et assigne desore enavant par le Roy par sez lettres patentz un loial homme appelle Conservatour des trieues et saufconduitz de Roy. (transl. In euery Port of the Sea shall be made and assigned from henceforth by the King by his Letters patents, one lawfull man called a Conseruator of the Truce and the King’s Safe Conducts.)]
1641. Termes de la Ley, 76. Conservator of the Truce.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. xxii. (1739), 105. The Statute … concerning Free Trade, which had been prejudiced by the rigour of the Conservatours of the Truce.
1730–6. in Bailey (folio).
† e. An officer appointed to protect the rights and settle the disputes of Scottish merchants in foreign ports or places of trade; a consul. Sometimes called C. of the Staple. Also an officer charged with the protection of English merchants in foreign countries in the 17th c. Obs.
1503. Sc. Acts Jas. IV. (1597), § 81. That the Conseruatour of this Realme haue jurisdiction to do justice … betuix merchand and merchande in thay partes beȝond sea.
1638. R. Baillie, Lett. & Jrnls. (1841), I. 71. Your Conservatour has written to the king that some munition is coming to us from Campheir.
1688. Lond. Gaz., No. 2371/3. Sir James Kennedy, Conservator of the Scotish Priviledges in the Netherlands.
1694. trans. Milton’s Lett. of State, 316 (Cromwell to K. of Portugal, Aug. 1658). Being a stranger … he … demanded the Judgment of the Conservator, appointed to determine the Causes of the English; but was sent back to the Cognizance of that Court, from which he had appeal’d.
1761. Brit. Mag., II. 672. Charles Stewart, Esq; lord conservator of the Scotch privileges at Campvere.
