[f. KEY sb.1 + BEARER: OE. had cǽʓbora in same sense.]
1. One who bears a key or keys. (Cf. KEY sb.1 2.)
14[?]. Nominale, in Wr.-Wülcker, 684/9. Hic claviger, a kayberere.
1486. Lichfield Gild Ord. (E.E.T.S.), 22. The foure kayberers or ther deputies.
1552. Huloet, Kaye bearer or keper.
1778. Bp. Lowth, Transl. Isaiah, Notes (ed. 12), 254. The priestess of Juno is said to be the key-bearer of the Goddess.
1846. Ellis, Elgin Marbles, I. 120. The figure of a key-bearer.
2. fig. One who is entrusted with authority symbolized by keys. Cf. KEY sb.1 4 and KEY-KEEPER 2.
a. 1540. Barnes, Wks. (1573), 262/2. S. Petter … commaundeth you that you shoulde bee alonely but ministers, & keybearers of these keyes.
1669. Baxter, Power Mag. & Ch. Past., II. xi. (1671), 29. Christ made these Officers the Key-bearers of his Churches.
1895. Tablet, 2 Nov., 700. The Prince of the Apostles, the key-bearer of eternal life.
So Key-bearing sb. and a.
1669. Baxter, Power Mag. & Ch. Past., II. xii. (1671), 29. This Key-bearing power (never denyed them from Christs time to this day).
1863. W. Cory, Lett. & Jrnls. (1897), 93. I should have lost the respect of the key-bearing woman [= guide].
