Also 7 -our. [a. late L. succentor, agent-n. f. succinĕre to sing to, accompany, ‘chime in,’ agree, f. suc- = SUB- 8 + canĕre to sing. In sense 3, as correlative to præcentor PRECENTOR, associated with SUB- 6 (cf. SUBCHANTER).]
† 1. a. A chanter who takes up the chant after the precentor, or who presides over the left choir. (Also allusively.) Obs.
1647. Trapp, Comm. Rev. v. 14. The Saints were the Precentors in this blessed Quire, and now they are the Succentors also. They began the Song, and so conclude it.
1697. O. Heywood, Heavenly Converse, Wks. 1826, IV. 525. We find precentors and succentors in this blessed quire, saints above and saints below.
1817. Fosbrooke, Brit. Monachism, 182. The Succentor or Subchantor presided over the left Choir; the Chantor began, and the Subchantor answered.
† b. One who sings the bass in a choir. Obs. rare–0.
1656. Blount, Glossogr.
† 2. fig. An abettor. Obs. rare–1.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XIX. xii. 141. Paulus … was the prompter and succentor of these cruell enterludes.
3. A precentor’s deputy.
1642. in Chas. I. Wks. (1662), II. 230. The Bill for the utter abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops, Bishops,… Succentors, [etc.].
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 19. Cartwright … had the Succentors place in the Church of Salisbury confer’d on him.
1771. Antiq. Sarisb., 140. Walter de la Wyle was Succentor or Subdean of Sarum.
1865. Churchman, 9 Nov., 1283. Mr. Precentor is to have a Vicar Choral to act as succentor or precentor’s deputy.
1904. Times, 17 March, 5/5. The posts of succentor and librarian at St. Paul’s are not held by the same person.
Hence Succentorship, the office of succentor.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 19. In his Proctorship succeeded Joh. Maplet … and in his Succentorship Rob. Joyner.
1829. Cassan, Bps. Bath & Wells, 104. The Succentorship and the Provostship … were … suppressed.
