Obs. Also 4–5 -our(e, 5–6 -er. [a. OF. suppriour (14th c.), med.L. supprior: see SUB- 6 and PRIOR. (Cf. Sp. suprior.)] = SUBPRIOR.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 208. Þe priour said, ‘Þis day þe suppriour chese we.’
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 171. Bothe Prioure an supprioure and owre pater abbas.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 64. The suppriour beholdyng aboute overalle, As is his office, that non of them were absent.
1485. Caxton, St. Wenefryde, 14. Randolf whiche was Suppryour of the hows.
c. 1534. [see SUPPRIORESS].
1535. in Lett. Suppr. Monast. (Camden), 54. I have often commandidd … the supprior … that ther shulld no seculer bois be conversant with any of the monkes.
1637. Gillespie, Eng. Pop. Cerem., III. v. 87. When the Supprior of the Abbey of Saint Andrewes was disputing with John Knox.
So † Supprioress [OF. supprioresse (14th c.), med.L. suppriorissa], = SUBPRIORESS.
a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1914), 54. Blyssede þat abbaye … þat hase so haly ane abbas as Charyte, a prioresse as Wysedome, a supprioresse as Mekenes.
a. 1455. Lett. Marg. Anjou & Bp. Beckington (Camden), 164. To the Suppriouresse of None Eton.
c. 1534. in J. Bacon, Liber Regis (1786), p. xi. The names of the supprior, supprioresse, sexten, selerer.
