Also 6 subsiser, -cer, 6–7 -zer, 7 -cizer. [SUB- 6.] In the University of Cambridge (now only at Trinity and Emmanuel colleges) an undergraduate (having special need of pecuniary assistance and formerly performing menial offices) ranking below a sizar.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, II. ii. Doth not all the towne crie out, and say, Frier Bacons subsiser is the greatest blockhead in all Oxford?
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Elder Brother, I. i. [Charles, a Scholar, loq.] Bid my Subsiser carry my Hackney to buttry.
1618. D’Ewes, in Autobiog. (1845), I. 107. At the same time was admitted one Thomas Manning to be my sub-sizar.
a. 1635. Corbet, Poems (1672), 102.
| The King being gone from Trinity, | |
| They make a Scramble for Degree; | |
| Masters of all sorts, and all Ages, | |
| Keepers, Subcizers, Lackeyes, Pages. |
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 227. John Penry … became a Subsizer of Peter House in Cambridge, about 1578.
1853. Camb. Univ. Comm., Index 157. Trinity College: The number of sub-sizars is unlimited; the only advantage possessed by a sub-sizar is, that he pays 4l. instead of 10l. for tuition, and that the admission fee is 2l. 15s. instead of 5l.
1866. Stud. Guide Univ. Camb., 371. The Subsizars succeed the Sizars in order of merit, as vacancies occur.
1884. J. B. Mullinger, Univ. Camb. fr. 1535 to Chas. I., 339. The chapel clerk, the porter at the gate,… and the steward were … generally recruited from the subsizars.
1902. Stud. Handbk. Univ. Camb., v. 97. Subsizarships are tenable for one year, but each Subsizar (if he has passed the Previous Examination…) will be elected into a Sizarship at the end of his first year.
† b. fig. A menial, lacquey. Obs.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., IV. ii. 1565. Which that one ey’d subsicer of the skie, Don Phœbus empties by caliditie.
1644. Cleveland, Char. Lond. Diurn., 5. O brave Oliver! Times voyder, Sub-sizer to the Wormes.
Hence Subsizarship, the position of a subsizar.
[1589: see SUBSISTERSHIP.]
1599. Broughton’s Lett., i. 6. He pities your madnes (being acquainted therewith from your subsizership in Trinitie Colledge).
1853. Camb. Univ. Comm., Index 157.
1894. Daily News, 14 June, 7/7. The following scholarships will be offered:… together with two subsizarships (limited to properly qualified candidates in need of assistance).
1902. [see above].
