a. Also 6–7 -is, -isse. [ad. L. submissus, pa. pple. of submittĕre to SUBMIT. Cf. SUMMISS.]
1. = SUBMISSIVE. (Const. to.) Obs. exc. arch.
a. Of persons.
1570. Foxe, A. & M., I. 311/2. Neither was the kyng now and Archb. so submisse: but [etc.].
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 475. Be not too imperious ouer hir … nor too submisse.
1600. Heywood, 2nd Pt. Edw. IV., II. ii. (1613), P 4 b. Was neuer Doue, or Turtle more submisse, Then I will be vnto your chastisement.
1612. Bp. Hall, Contempl., O. T., III. iii. 207. To execute rigour vpon a submisse offender is more mercilesse then iust.
1625. Mountagu, App. Cæsar, 110. It were to be wished, that such transported spirits were taught to be more submisse and sparing in their talk.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 316. With aw In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss.
1708. J. Philips, Cyder, I. 12. To foreign yoke submiss.
1735. Somerville, Chace, II. 112. Huntsman, lead on! behind the clust’ring Pack Submiss attend.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, III. xxi. Submiss he answer’d.
1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XI. iv. III. 213. To such of the Canons as he came upon, his Majesty was most polite; they most submiss.
1875. A. de Vere, Mary Tudor, III. iii. Sir, you presume. Your station Is our confessional. There, as a daughter, I stand submiss.
absol. 1742. Shenstone, Schoolmistr., xvii. To thwart the proud, and the submiss to raise.
b. Of actions, feelings, demeanor, etc.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 337. They would not equall them with those who were alreadie humbled, till they submitted in a more submisse manner.
1588. Greene, Pandosto (1607), A 3 b. Pandosto … entertained the Kings … & Noblemen with such submisse curtesie.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 190. King Iames mollified by the Bishops submisse and eloquent Letters.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. xcv. 6. Even the submissest and lowlyest gestures.
1702. C. Mather, Magn. Chr., Introd. C 3/2. A Simple, Submiss, Humble Style.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., i. (1882), 5. The great works of past ages … in respect to which his faculties must remain passive and submiss.
1848. Lytton, Harold, III. ii. Godwin prays with all submiss and earnest prayer.
1904. M. Hewlett, Queen’s Quair, I. xi. Every testimony of the submiss heart given him by my lady.
c. fig. Of material things.
1637. Marmion, Cupid & Psyche, I. i. 113. With her rosie feet insulting ore The submisse waves, a Dolphin she bestrides.
1868. Geo. Eliot, Sp. Gipsy, II. 206. The loadstone draws, Acts like a will to make the iron submiss.
† d. Of buildings: ? Unpretentious. Obs.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 88. The buildings are generally submisse and low.
1664. J. Webb, Stone-Heng (1725), 40. Pylasters … ought not … to be of such stately Height as Pillars, but far more humble and submiss.
† e. With prefixed too forming subst. phr. Obs.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XVI. ci. 399. And rather than in haughtiness did fault in too-submis.
† 2. Of the voice, speech: Low, uttered in an undertone, subdued. Obs.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. xxx. 425. They said with a low and submisse voyce, Sir [etc.].
a. 1638. Mede, Wks. (1672), 844. That submiss reading in Churches sine cantu, which we use now.
1666. J. Smith, Old Age, 118. As Age enfeebleth a man the grindings are weaker, and the several voices of them more submiss.
1787. trans. Klopstock’s Messiah, IV. 182. Judas, then with submiss Voice said, Is it I?
