Obs. Also 6 epicay, -cheia. [ad. Gr. ἐπιείκεια, f. ἐπιεικής reasonable, f. ἐπί according to + εἰκός likely, reasonable. Cf. OF. epyeykie (14th c.).] Reasonableness, equity, as opposed to rigid law.
1508. Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps., in Wks. I. 261. Epicheia whiche is proprely the mynde of the lawe.
1531. Dial. Laws Eng., I. xvi. (1638), 28. His equity or Epicay.
1549. Latimer, Serm., v. O iiij. For auoydyng disturbaunce in the communewealth, such an epiky and moderacion maye be vsed in it [this law].
