Forms: α. 5 owmpreght, 7 umpridge, umpiridge, umperage, umpeerage. β. 6– umpirage (7 umpireage). [f. next + -AGE.] The act of umpiring; the office or power of an umpire; the decision of an umpire, arbitration.
α. c. 1490. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 84. Wher it is so, uncle, at the matter betwyxt my servant and John Forest is put to iiij men, and the owmpreght of you.
1609. N. Riding Rec. (1884), I. 173. The arbitrament … of Tho. Warcupp and Anth. Byarley, gent., with the umpridge of Mr. Parson Lascells.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., 301. The Prophet Malachi … hath so fully decided the cause, as if it had been expresly referred to his umperage.
1661. Andronicus, III. i. D 4 b. Here’s Cleobulus, We will refer it to his Umpeerage.
1679. Penn, Addr. Prot., II. 180. The Scriptures are made more doubtful than they are by such as would fain preserve to themselves the Umpiridge and Judgship of their Meaning.
β. 1519. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 223, note. The parties to abide the umpirage of Thomas Lord Cardinal … if given before the feast of All Saints.
1633. Bp. Morton, Discharge Five Imput., 144. S. Augustine his Vmpirage and full Determination of this whole question, concerning the exposition of Christ his speech.
1643. Nethersole, Proj. for Peace (1648), 21. The finall Umpirage of such … matters, as cannot be resolved without the admission of forein arbitrement.
1675. J. Smith, Chr. Relig. App., I. 18. Augustus … referring the choice of an Heir, where he had so bad choice, to the umpirage of the Divine Wisdom.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 48. They hoped the umpirage of the war would fall into their hands.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. i. 17. Enacting … that their submission of the suit to arbitration or umpirage shall be made a rule of any of the king’s courts of record.
1805. East’s Reports, V. 189. The time for making the umpirage was further extended.
1846. Sumner, Scholar, Jurist, etc., 62. When, in our age, two nations … appeal to war…, they voluntarily adopt this unchristian umpirage of right.
1890. Law Times, LXXXVIII. 358/1. We do not think it would be fair to cast upon the County Court judges the responsibilities of umpirage.
