sb. and a. [f. CO- 3 b + RIVAL. But it seems to be only a modern treatment of corival, an old variant of CORRIVAL, synonym of RIVAL. The early unhyphened examples might as properly be included under CORRIVAL]
A. sb. A joint rival with others; one of two or more rivals ranked as equals.
Latham says ‘Corival, though used as synonymous with rival or corrival, is a different word. Two persons or more rivaling another are the only true corivals.’ But this does not seem to be historically correct.
[1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., V. xxii. (1612), 114. For this coriuall seed begot England English againe.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 207. Without Co-riuall [Qq. corriuall].
1640. H. Mill, Night’s Search, 76. She rules the rost, And every Jack’s corivall to mine Host.]
1678. R. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, xi. § 10. 368. The Lord … will have no Co-partner, nor Co-rival of his Glory.
1799. Coleridge, Sibyl. Leaves, Wks. 1877, II. 212. Co-rivals in the nobler gift of thought.
1865. Sat. Rev., 2 Sept., 310/1. He shines out as a bright particular star in comparison with his co-rival.
B. adj. Jointly rivalling someone else.
1832–4. De Quincey, Caesars, Wks. IX. 66. Co-rival nations who might balance the victorious party.
Hence Co-rivalry, Co-rivalship.
1835. Fraser’s Mag., XII. 272. In the corivalry of trade.
Co-rival, v. var. of CORRIVAL v.
