Forms: (see below). [a. OF. soverain, souverein, etc. (mod.F. souverain), = It. sovrano (see SOVRAN), Sp. and Pg. soberano:—pop.L. *superānus, f. super above. Cf. MDu. sov(e)rein, souverein, soferein.]
I. Forms.
1. α. 3–5 souerein (4 -eine, 6, 8 sov-), 3–6 souereyn(e, 5 souereeyne, souureyn), 4–6 sovereyn(e, 4 sovreyn); 4–6 sou-, 4–7 soverain(e, 4 souorain), 4–6 sou-, soverayn(e, 5 souereayn).
β. 4–7 souereign(e, 4 soeuereigne, 5 souerign, -ygne), 4–7 sovereigne, 4– sovereign; 4–6 soueraigne (4 souuer-), 5–6 soueraygne (6 sov-), 6–7 soveraigne, 6–8 soveraign (6 sovar-, 7 -aing).
γ. (Chiefly Sc.) 4–7 soueran(e, 4 sowu-, 5 sow-), 5–6 soveran(e.
[For examples of these forms see the senses below.]
δ. 4–5 soueryn, 5 soueren, -eng, -yng(e, 6 -eyng; 5 souerant-, soveraynt-, 6 soverand(e.
1390–1440. R. Gloucester’s Chron., 5183 (Harl. MS.). Þat folc … vnderuonge þere Kyng Egbryȝt to her soueryn.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 11459. In faith of þo faire soueryn.
1421. Cov. Leet Bk., 36. Masturs & souerens of this wurthy Cite.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 61. More Richesse than his Soveryng Lord.
1535. Boorde, Lett., in Introd. Knowl. (1870), 53. Our most … gracyose souereyng lord the Kynge.
1537. in Lett. Suppress. Monast. (Camden), 153. Our soverand lord kyng Henrie.
1548. Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 38 § 4. The King or Soverande Lorde.
2. α. 4 sufrayn, 5 suffrayn, -ein, 6 -ayne, 6–7 -ain; 5–6 sufferayne, 6 -ayn, -aine, -ein, -aigne, -eigne; 5 sofferayn, sofereyn, 6 -ayne, 5 sofreyn.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter 514. Ask … þi sufrayns.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5055. Diamede … said to þat suffrayn.
c. 1440. York Myst., xiv. 46. He is sufferayne of all thyng.
1452. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 277. Our sofferayn lorde the Kyng.
1528. Star Chamber Cases (Selden), II. 168. In the xixth yere of our sofreyn lord kyng henry the viijth.
1534. in Peacock, Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866), 191. With a sufferayn of golde thereto nailed.
1551. Turner, Herbal, II. 123. A soferayne medicine.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest (title-p.), The most sufferaigne Vertues in all the whole kinde of Stones & Mettals.
1596. Dawson, Good Hus-wifes Iewell, 50. A sufferaine ointment for shrunken sinewes.
β. 5 soferan, 5 suffirane, 5–6 sufferan, suffran, Sc. -ane; 5 sufferen, 6 suffren, sufferyn.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4817. Plenty of Setis … in a serkyll þe soferan before.
c. 1426. Abraham’s Sacrifice, 273, in Non-Cycle Myst. Plays (1909), 33. A, sufferen lord, þi wille be fulfilled.
1515. A. Williamson, in Douglas’s Wks. (1874), I. Introd. p. xxii. The Quene my mastres and suffrane.
1540. North Co. Wills (Surtees), 172. To Mr. John Danyell … oon sufferyn.
1553. Bale, Vocacyon, 5 b. The good suffren of kylkennie … brought me thyder in the night.
γ. 5 soferand, sufferande, suffraynd; 5–6 sufferante (6 pl. -aunce), sufferent(e.
1432. in Burton & Raine, Hemingbrough (1888), 383. To my sufferante lorde Prior of Durham.
c. 1440. York Myst., x. 163. Gude god oure suffraynd syre.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., viii. 22. Take tent to me, youre soferand syre.
a. 1500–34. Cov. Corpus Chr. Plays (1902), 2. Loo! sufferentis, now ma you be glad.
1553. Request true harted Englysheman, 12. All our olde angelles … and our newe sufferantes.
1562. Bullein, Bulwarke, Bk. Simples, 7. Sufferente against all hote diseases.
δ. 6 suffaryng, suffering.
1538. Lichfield Gild Ord. (E.E.T.S.), 15. Our suffaryng lorde kyng henry the viijth.
1594. Dee, Priv. Diary (Camden), 50. The Archbishop gave me a payre of sufferings to drinke.
II. Signification.
A. sb. 1. One who has supremacy or rank above, or authority over, others; a superior; a ruler, governor, lord or master (of persons, etc.). Freq. applied to the Deity in relation to created things. In later use suggestive of sense 2 a.
α. c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 74. For, sire king, þou art mi souerein, and þe erchebischop al-so.
c. 1315. Shoreham, IV. 262. Who yst þat neuer nas rebel Aȝeins hys souerayn?
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 506. Murmuryng eek is ofte among servauntz, that grucchen whan here soverayns bidden hem to doon leeful thinges.
c. 1449. Paston Lett., I. 78. To my Sovereyn, John Paston.
a. 1470. H. Parker, Dives & Pauper (W. de W., 1496), clxxxvi. 181. I suppose that my lege lorde the kynge bydde me do a thynge, and my mayster or my souerayn bydde me do the contrarye.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Edw. IV., v. 83 b. For I am departed vntill doomes day: But love you that lord that is soveraine of all.
β. 1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 200. Þo þat seten atte syde table or with þe souereignes of þe halle.
1400. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 4. But God that is our elder sovereigne gife you long lyve.
1495. Act 12 Hen. VII., c. vii. If any laie persone hereaftir purpensidly murder their Lord Maister or Sovereign immediate that they be not admytted to their Clergie.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Phil., 897, Wks. (1901), 262. This distinction of Soueraigne, Ruler, Gouernour, or Maister, is first founded vpon Nature.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. ii. 147. Thy husband is thy Lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy soueraigne.
16[?]. Middleton, etc. Old Law, V. i. The Duke! As he is my sovereign, I do give him two crowns for it.
1673. Cave, Prim. Chr., I. i. 15. The Soveraign of the whole Creation.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), I. Pref. 7. Those haughty merchants, who thought themselves Kings of the sea, and sovereigns over crowned heads.
1775. Johnson, Lett. (1788), I. 293. Lucy says I must not go this week…. The Lady at Stowhill says, how comes Lucy to be such a sovereign?
1820. Byron, Mar. Fal., I. ii. Why, that’s my uncle! The leader, and the statesman, and the chief Of commonwealths, and sovereign of himself!
1859. Mill, Liberty, i. 22. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is Sovereign.
γ. c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 7. So soft was the sessoun our Souerane dovne sent.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 79. Christ our cheif and Souerane.
† b. A husband in relation to his wife. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 71. The Prestes tho gon hom ayein, And sche goth to hire sovereign.
a. 1400. Pistill of Susan, 223. We siked wel sore, For sert of hire souereyn and for hire owne sake.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 6336. To hire lord & souerayn seide sche than: ‘My sovereyn,’ sche seide, ‘ȝowre owne am J.’
c. A person who or thing that excels or surpasses others of the kind. Now rare.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xlviii. 170. Haill, of all flouris quene and souerane.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ii. 2. They in all theyr dedis were so valyant that they ought to be reputed as soueraignes in all chyualry.
1635. A. Stafford, Fem. Glory (1869), 75. This Soveraigne of her Sexe.
1695. Ld. Preston, Boeth., III. 96. We have already defined Happiness to be the Soveraign of Goods.
2. spec. a. The recognized supreme ruler of a people or country under monarchical government; a monarch; a king or queen.
α. 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5183. Þat folc of estangle vnderuenge þere King egbriȝt to hor souereyn.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lxviii. 28. Sugetis þat ere folouers of þaire soueraynes.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1669. For the souerayn hym selfe was a sete rioll.
c. 1440. Generydes, 94. In Surre…, Where my fader is kyng and souerayne.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 58. Who after long debate … Was of the Britons first crownd Soueraine.
1741. C. Middleton, Cicero, I. V. 401–2. Clodius … granted this Priesthood to one Brogitarus, a petty Soverein in those parts, to whom he had before given the title of King.
β. c. 1400. Anturs of Arth., vi. Thus with solance þay semelede,… And sew to þe soueraygne.
1584. Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 11. Inas King of Wessex to be their souereigne.
1594. Barnfield, Sheph. Cont. (Arb.), 26. When bad subiects gainst their Soueraigne … vnnaturally rebell.
a. 1652. Brome, Queenes Exch., I. Wks. 1873, III. 459. How darst thou thus oppose thy Soveraignes will.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xii. (1848), 243. ’Tis the only thing wherein Subjects can punish their Soveraigns.
1710. Addison, Whig Exam., No. 5, ¶ 3. The relation between the soveraign and the subject.
1780. Mirror, No. 82. The Sovereign may be misinformed as to the deservings of those whom he is pleased to honour.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, v. I. 131. The Attic king Erechtheus and the Thracian Eumolpus, who had become sovereign of Eleusis.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., ix. They brought down on themselves the wrath of their nominal sovereigns.
transf. 1787. J. Adams, Def. Constit. Gov. U.S.A. (1794), I. 26. The sovereign is the whole country.
1794. Brookes’ Gazetteer (ed. 8), s.v. Lucern, The former [council] is the nominal sovereign.
γ. a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2774. A noble prince, Þat certified his souerane þir saȝes in a pistill.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 110. Thare suld na subject obey till his soverane to werrey agaynis his God.
1562. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 2. The maist excellent and gracius Souerane, Marie Quene of Scottis.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 296. Maist illustre and bountifull souerane.
b. In fig. applications.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., III. i. 184. Don Cupid, Regent of Loue-rimes,… Th’ annointed soueraigne of sighes and groanes.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xiv. (1602), I iv b. Come Bel-imperia,… My sorrowes ease and soueraigne of my blisse.
1616. T. Scot, Philomythie, II. B v b. The knight they humbly thanke, and him they crown The Soueraigne of glory and renowne.
1821. Shelley, Epipsych., 592. Weak Verses, go, kneel at your Sovereign’s feet.
† 3. a. A mayor or provost of a town, in later use esp. in Ireland. Obs.
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, fol. 32. Þat … anquestes … ben imad in tounes þoru him þat is souerein of þe toune.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, IV. 32. Whanne it drowe to þe day … Þat souereynes were semblid, and þe schire-knyȝtis.
c. 1450. Cal. Lett. Bk. ‘D’ Lond., 205. Diligent execucioun of all that ye shall be chargid of be your sovereynys of this Cite, ye shall performe.
1538. in P. H. Hore, Hist. Wexford (1900), I. 237. When the Suffrain herde herof he soghte for the said Watkyne … who … bade the Suffrayne take the offendors.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, ii. 18. If any man tell of many Magistrates; wee will by and by inquire for the soueraigne.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 287. The 26 day his Lordship wrote to the Soueraigne of Wexford.
1696. Lond. Gaz., No. 3178/4. The Association of the Soveraign, Burgesses, and Commonalty of the Borough of Carlingford in Ireland.
1713. in P. H. Hore, Hist. Wexford (1900), I. 104. John Ivory, the present Sovereign of the town of New Ross, and his Successors Sovereigns of the said Town.
1762. Wesley, Wks. (1872), III. 90. A dancing-master was busily employed in the … market house [at Belfast]; till at twelve the sovereign put him out, by holding his court there.
† b. The Superior of a monastery or other conventual establishment. Obs.
14[?]. Rule Syon Monast., liii. in Collect. Topogr. (1834), I. 31. The sovereyne … owethe to se that none have more than nedethe nor lasse.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 2. Obedyence to the byddynges of god, and of youre reule, and of youre soueraynes.
1534. Act 26 Hen. VIII., c. 3 § 8. At the … pleasures of their masters & soueraines of the monasteries and priories.
1544. trans. Littleton’s Tenures (1574), 42 b. So may the lorde haue an action agaynste the soueraigne of the house that taketh and admitteth his villeine to be professed.
4. a. A gold coin minted in England from the time of Henry VII. to Charles I., originally of the value of 22s. 6d. but latterly [early 19th c.] worth only 10s. or 11s.
There were also double and treble sovereigns. The first group of quotations exhibits some of the enactments relative to the coin, or indications of its value at different dates. See also HALF-SOVEREIGN.
(a) 1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 5 § 1. All maner of Gold of the Coynes of a Sovereyn, Halfe Sovereyn, Riall, half Ryall … shall go and be curraunt in payment through all this … Realme.
1526. Lett. & P. Hen. VIII., IV. II. 1149. [The King intends … to order by proclamation that the angel … shall be current for 7s. 6d.,… the sovereign 22s. 6d., the demy-sovereign 11s. 3d.]
1542. Recorde, Gr. Artes, K ij b. A Souerayn is the greatest englishe coyne, and conteyneth … 4 crownes and an halfe, that is to say 22s. 6d.
1551. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1822), III. 45. The old sovereign of fine gold which shall be current for thirty shillings of lawful money of England…. A whole sovereign of crown gold which shall be current for twenty shillings.
1591. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1860), 190. To Mr. Doctor Colmore a trible severignt, beinge thirtie shilling peyce.
1611. in Birch, Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), I. 147. Raising … the angel and sovereign to eleven shillings, and the Jacobite piece to two and twenty.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 29/1. The Soveraign, Coined by Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, Queen Elizabeth, King James,… passed for eleven shillings.
1726–31. Tindal, Rapin’s Hist. Eng. (1743), II. XVII. 157. By an Indenture of 2d. of Elizabeth, a pound weight of Gold … was coined … into 24 Sovereigns, at thirty Shillings a piece. Ibid. A pound weight of Crown Gold of 22 Carats fine, and 2 Carats alloy, was coined into … 33 Sovereigns at twenty Shillings a piece.
1853. Humphreys, Coin Collector’s Man., II. 446. To distinguish it from the previous rial, it was determined to call it a ‘sovereign.’ Ibid., 449 [etc.].
(b) 1514. Visil. Dioc. Norwich (Camden), 120. Johannes Smythe ostendit in camera … iij soveryns.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 238. The Merchantes of the Staple … presented her with an .C. sovereyns of golde in a ryche purse.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., V. x. 172. I gaue him some soueraignes for his paines.
1607. Dekker & Webster, Westw. Hoe, I. ii. D.’s Wks. 1873, II. 289. And you will stay till to morrow you shall haue it all in new soueraignes.
1615. J. Stephens, Satyr. Ess. (1857), 233. She hath old harry soveraignes, that saw no sunne in fiftie yeares.
transf. 1660. in J. Simon, Ess. Irish Coins (1749), 126. The Spanish Suffrain of gold, the Spanish Half-suffrain.
b. A current British gold coin of the value of twenty shillings.
1817. Royal Proclam., 1 July. That certain pieces of gold money should be coined, which should be called ‘sovereigns or twenty shilling pieces.’
1828. P. Cunningham, N. S. Wales (ed. 3), II. 156. Sovereigns are the next most advisable articles, and lastly dollars.
1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, 26. I’d give a guinea, that’s to say a sovereign, to know what it is.
1882. J. Parker, Apost. Life, I. 142. What a ‘wonder’ it would be for some of us to ever give a sovereign to any good cause upon earth!
attrib. 1859. F. S. Cooper, Ironmongers’ Catal., 140. Sovereign Scales, Mint Weights, 1/6 extra.
† 5. A variety of pear. Obs.–1
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 213. Pears. Windsor, Sovereign, Orange, Bergamot [etc.].
B. adj. † 1. Of persons: Standing out above others or excelling in some respect. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 13214. Souereyne knyghtes þey were, hit seys.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 991. To him that is so soverayn of honour.
1402. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 60. Seraphin he is the sovereynest, in charite he brennith.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 44. It is yeuen and sende us fro our louyng fader and fro our souereeyne leche.
1547. Bk. Marchauntes, c vj. He [sc. a cardinal] is alredy in the way and nygh to be hymself the great hatmaker, or souerayn haberdasher.
1576. Gascoigne, Kenelworth Castle, Wks. 1910, II. 104. And that the maide released be, by soveraigne maidens might.
1688. Collier, Several Disc. (1725), 243. As there is one Being sovereign to all the rest, and upon whom they all depend.
2. Of things, qualities, etc.: Supreme, paramount; principal, greatest, or most notable.
α. c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 7860. Bot þe mast soverayne ioy of alle Es þe syght of Godes bryght face.
c. 1383. in Eng. Hist. Rev., Oct. (1911), 748. Prestis owen to make þe sacramentis of holi chirche wiþ souerayn deuocioun.
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., xx. 17. The souereyne wisdome of god hath ordeynyd the coldes and the hetis.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 30. Of whose comyng messyr Jaques had Souerayn playsyr.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), Ee b. Me think it shulde be a souerayn foly.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 16. The antique world … The guifts of soueraine bounty did embrace.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, VI. xliii. (1702), 72. A Realm … Where every Ejulation, every Pain Alas, is too too truly Soverain.
β. 1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 217. For-þi god of his goodnesse þe fyrste gome Adam, Sette hym in solace & in souereigne myrthe.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 111. Þe kyng hadde Englisshemen in sovereigne worschippe.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., III. (1811), 38. When this Coilus had reygned in Soueraygne peace, by the terme of liiii. yeres.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 19. Whose substance … may be to my person a singular ornament, and a souereigne safegarde?
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. i. § 3. This corrective spice, the mixture whereof maketh knowledge so soveraigne.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 9. Free and soveraigne mercy and compassion might only be ascribed to God.
1683. Brit. Spec., 25. It is but just, that Man should pay a Soveraign Adoration and Respect to this bounteous Creator.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 99. This is his sovereign Charm against Fear in an Engagement.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., ix. 223. The good of his soul, is the sovereign object of his cares.
1891. Baring-Gould, In Troubadour-Land, viii. 111. They laughed over their troubles as though it were a sovereign joke.
γ. 1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 274. Of so souerane gret bounte.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1125. Iff it be worship & wit wisdom to shewe, Hit is sothely more soueran to see it in werke.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 507. Tha … said, thai suld exampill tak of her souerane teching.
b. Qualifying good. (Freq. = summum bonum.)
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter iv. 8. A souereyn goed þai may noght se.
c. 1380. Antecrist, in Todd, Three Treat. Wyclif (1851), 118. In þe first boke of souereynest good.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. ii. (1883), 86. Fayth is a souerayn good and cometh of the good wyll of the herte.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 5. All things belonging to the saluation and soueraigne good of men.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Of Truth (Arb.), 500. The knowledge of Truth … is the Soueraigne Good of humane Nature.
1692. Dryden, St. Euremont’s Ess., 333. Of all the Opinions of Philosophers concerning the Sovereign Good.
1744. Harris, Three Treat., Wks. (1841), 45. The sovereign good is that, the possession of which renders us happy.
a. 1871. Grote, Eth. Fragm., v. (1876), 137. To promote the accomplishment of his supreme purpose—the Sovereign Good of the Community.
c. Of contempt: Supreme, unmitigated.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, II. vii. Which at last ended, on the part of the Lady, in a sovereign contempt for her husband.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxx. You hold in sovereign contempt these common failings of your sex.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. I. 125. The respect … turned into the most sovereign contempt for his meanness.
1876. F. Harrison, Choice Bks., iv. (1886), 88. The great books … are treated by collectors and librarians with sovereign contempt.
3. Of remedies, etc.: Efficacious or potent in a superlative degree. Freq. in fig. use.
α. 1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XX. 370. Þe souereynest salue for alkyn synnes.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 131. Of Planteine He hath his herbe sovereine.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 197. Oryson is Souerayn remedy in euery trybulacion.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 13. And this is a souerayn medicyn to al temptacions.
1549. E. Allen, Par. Rev. John, 37. The leaves, frute and sappe of these holy trees, were very holesome and soveraine.
1588. Greene, Perimedes, Wks. (Grosart), VII. 20. A soueraine simple against disquiet and feare.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, N. T., 327. But how soveraine soever it [the Gospel] was of it selfe, yet it was not at all available to the good of many of them.
1662. T. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Amb., 200. There is also in this Province a Drug very soverain against the Worms.
β. 1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. xx. 172. Belfloure … is soveraigne to cure the payne … of the necke.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 57. Telling me, the Soueraign’st thing on earth Was Parmacity, for an inward bruise.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 97. The soueraigne minerall against infections.
1679. Phil. Trans., XIX. 729. This Giben is … a soveraign Remedy for Coughs and Green Wounds.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 83. 40. I have found it of sovereign use as well during the small pox as before it.
1793. Cowper, Lett., Wks. 1836, VII. 330. I conclude that it … may therefore be sovereign in cases where the eyelids are ulcerated.
1839. Morning Post, 17 Oct. The sovereignest thing on earth for rendering the people wise.
1888. Besant, Eulogy R. Jeffries, 85. That kind of belief … is sovereign against low spirits, carelessness, and inactivity.
γ. 1600. Holland, Livy, VIII. xviii. 294. Souerane medicines and holsome for the bodie of man.
† 4. In literal sense: Lofty. Obs.–1
1388. Wyclif, Prov. viii. 2. Whether wisdom crieth not ofte … In souereyneste and hiȝ coppis.
5. Of persons: Having superior or supreme rank or power; spec. holding the position of a ruler or monarch.
α. 1340. Ayenb., 189. Þanne ssel he keste his greate manzinge as þe heȝe bissop an souerayn pope.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 811. Þus dindimus … god by-secheþ to saue þe soueraine prinse.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xiii. 56. Þai schall com … before Godd þe souerayne Iugge.
1472–3. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 5/2. The soverayn Ruler or Keper of such Castell, Towne,… or other place.
1563. Homilies, II. Of Repentance, ii. Our sauiour Jesus Christ … beynge our souerayne Byshop.
1598. Yong, Diana, 456. O soueraine God! that once I might but knowe Greefe without hope to sease vpon thy soule.
β. 1390. Gower, Conf., I. 9. As he which is king sovereign Of al the worldes governaunce. Ibid., II. 52. To thee, which art god sovereign.
1600. Holland, Livy, III. 109. The twelve knitches of rods were born by the Lictors before the soveraigne judge.
1611. Cotgr., Sultane,… a Sultannesse; or soueraigne Princesse.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., II. xv. § ii. (1699), 212. The Justice-Court of old, was the only Soveraing Court of the Nation.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. 327. The prince … abhor’d the profanation offer’d to his sovereign-empress.
a. 1763. W. King, Lit. & Polit. Anecd. (1819), 132. He … hath been introduced to most of the sovereign princes.
1825. Bentham, Ration. Reward, 16. Partly because, being members of the sovereign body, they would have it so.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, VI. 123. Evagoras … claimed to be treated as a sovereign prince, the great king’s equal in rank and title.
1877. Northcote, Rom. Catacombs, II. vi. 109. To the Sovereign Pontiffs … we are principally indebted for whatever fragments have been preserved.
γ. c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vi. (Thomas), 155. For chastite is souerane quene of al vertuise euir bedene.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 109. The pape is soverane to the Emperour, and the Emperour subject to the pape.
1508. Dunbar, Flyting w. Kennedie, 104. Sen thow with wirschep wald sa fane be styld, Haill, souerane senȝeour!
b. Freq. as a qualification of lord or lady.
α. c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3954. I sette ȝou for no soudiour but for souerayn lord, to lede al þis lordschip as ȝou likes euer.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 252. Me þat ye callid your mastresse, Youre soverayne ladye.
1414. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 22. Oure soverain Lord, youre humble and trewe lieges [etc.]. Ibid. (1459), V. 369/2. The seid Lord had sent his servaunt to oure Soverayne Lady the Quene.
1530. Palsgr., 478/2. She hath ben his soverayne lady.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 14. Locrine was left the soueraine Lord of all.
β. c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 10. Sovereigne lord, welcome to youre citee!
1474. Cov. Leet Bk., 405. Oure Souerygne lady, the Quene.
1558. in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. II. App. i. 399. She beinge our sovaraigne lord and ladie, other kinges … ought to paye tribute unto her.
1674. Selden, Titles Honor, 125. What now is one of our particular Notes of Maiestie, not giuen to any but the supreme, I mean Soueraign Lord or Lady.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. (1862), 73. Shall I entertain thee against my soveraign Lord?
1727. Gay, Fables, I. xxxvi. 34. When heaven the world with creatures stor’d, Man was ordain’d their sovereign lord.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxxvi. There rides a faithful servant of his most beautiful and Sovereign Lady.
1832. [see LADY sb. 2].
γ. 1482. Eng. Misc. (Surtees), 41. Ye xxj yer of our soveran lorde kyng Edward the fourth.
1529. Registr. Aberdon. (Maitland), I. 395. For commond weill of owre sowerane lordis legis.
1581. J. Hamilton, in Cath. Tract. (S.T.S.), 73. To … my seuerane ladye Marie the Quenis maiestie of Scotland.
c. Of states, communities, etc.
1595. Shaks., John, V. ii. 82. I am too high-borne to be … Instrument To any Soueraigne State throughout the world.
1682. A. Mudie, Pres. St. Scotl., ii. 23. The King is … a free Prince of a Sovereign Power.
1771. Ann. Reg., I. 67. The Baron … has been condemned by the sovereign courts to be kept 15 days in prison.
1819. J. Marshall, Const. Opin. (1839), 160. The defendant, a sovereign state, denies the obligation of a law enacted by the legislature of the union [etc.].
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 448, note. Athens had still its law of libel, by which the majesty of the sovereign people was protected.
1868. Cooley, Const. Lim., i. A State is called a sovereign State when this supreme power resides within itself.
6. Of power, authority, etc.: Supreme.
c. 1532. Du Wes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 1019. Most redouted imperiall myght, and soverayne majesty.
1595. Markham, Sir R. Grinuile, lii. Shee giues him soueraigne rule, and publique right.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., I. (ed. 2), 101. That the Soveraignest power and jurisdiction … resides in the whole Kingdom and Parliament.
1676. Dryden, Aurengz., I. i. 60. In change of Government, The Rabble … Do Sovereign Justice.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scotl., III. Wks. 1813, I. 181. The sovereign authority was by this treaty transferred wholly into the hands of the congregation.
1851. Dixon, W. Penn, xxii. (1872), 193. The sovereign power resides in the governor and freemen of the province.
1878. Stewart & Tait, Unseen Univ., Introd. 14. This sovereign and paramount influence.
7. Of or belonging to, characteristic of, supremacy or superiority.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xxxiii. Full many a glorious morning haue I seene, Flatter the mountaine tops with soueraine eie.
1725. Pope, Odyss., I. 171. He led the goddess to the sovereign seat.
1850. L. Hunt, Autobiog., II. xiv. 141. Disobedience … was an offence doubly irritating to his nature on account of his sovereign habits as a jailer.
1870. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. I. (1873), 324. He really sees things with their sovereign eye.
