Forms: α. 5 owmpere, ovmper, ompar. β. 5–6 umpere (6 vn-), 6 vmppere, 6–7 umpeer(e. γ. 5–7 umper (5 unpar). δ. 6–7 umpyer, -pier (6 impier). ε. 6– umpire (7 umpyre). [Later form of NOUMPERE, by transference of the n- to the indefinite article, as in adder, apron.]
1. One who decides between disputants or contending parties and whose decision is usually accepted as final; an arbitrator.
α. c. 1400[?]. Lydg., Æsop’s Fab., vi. 43. Among these owmperis was werre none, ne stryf.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 360/1. Nowmpere, or owmpere, arbiter, sequester.
1483. Cath. Angl., 263/2. An Ovmper (A. Ompar), impar.
β. c. 1430. Wyclif’s Prol. Rom. (MS. Rawl. C. 257 fol. 90 b/2). Þe apostle putte him bitwene as a meene, distriynge alle her questiouns, as a good vmpere.
1450. Paston Lett., I. 120. Take ȝe one, and he another; and if they may not accorde, ȝe and I to be umpere, for we stande bothe in like cas.
1552–3. in E. B. Jupp, Carpenters’ Co. (1887), 376. John abbott Rjchard tylton George Kyng John revell … for days men and master Russell for vmppere.
1567. Jewel, Def. Apol., II. 312. He is no indifferente umpeere, that firste diuideth Offices equally bitweene twoo, and afterwarde alloteth bothe offices to One alone.
1576. A. Hall, Acc. Quarrell (1815), 25. The just and consionable dome of so grave umpeers.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 255. They constitute him their arbitraitour and chiefe Vmpeere.
1649. Ball, Power of Kings, 6. These things they may doe as Judges Allegate, or Umpeeres for the People.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 394/2. Being desired to be Umpeer between Apollo and Pan,… Midas passed his Verdict against Apollo.
γ. 1464, 1556. [see 2].
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 421. The Ladie Flauia … comunaunded them both to silence, willing Euphues as vmper in these matters, briefly to speake his minde.
1606. Bp. W. Barlow, Serm., E j b. The best course … will bee … to make him the vmper, whom they make our Accuser.
1611. Grimeston, Hist. France, 969. Cardinall Medicis … was, as it were, an Vmper of all difficulties in this good and holy reconciliation.
δ. 1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, Ded. (1895), 3. Some as an vmpier or a judge with my sentence finallye to discusse.
1577. F. de L’isle’s Legendarie, A vij b. The controuersie was referred vnto the arbitrement of three vmpiers.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 168. If this Aunswere … shall seeme but of small credite with you, I will bryng you Augustine for an umpyer betwixt us.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 23. I rest waiting upon you as umpiers to know what ye advise.
1641. Prynne, Antip., 274. The Lords in Parliament tooke an Oath to be indifferent umpiers betweene the Bishop and Duke.
ε. 1599. Broughton’s Lett., vii. 25. He, whom you … made vmpire of that … controuersie.
1606. J. Carpenter, Solomon’s Solace, xxviii. 115. If a man sinne against God, who shall bee his Umpire, or Dayes-man?
1640. Quarles, Enchirid. (1641), 13. When the Frog and the Mouse could not take up the Quarrell, the Kite was umpyre.
1681. H. Nevile, Plato Rediv., 152. A great person was to be chosen every Parliament, who should be as it were an Umpire between the King and his People.
1717. J. Keill, Anim. Œcon. (1738), 54. How could I wish for a more impartial Judge, or how could I choose a more proper Umpire?
1751. Smollett, R. Random, xvii. The constable … pleaded our cause so effectually, that she condescended to make him umpire.
1815. Zeluca, III. 268. I must become umpire between you and Mrs. Wolsey.
1835. Lytton, Rienzi, X. iii. We might call in an umpire—a foreigner who had no interest in either faction.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 152. To choose an umpire of discourse would be unseemly.
b. transf. Something which serves to decide or settle a matter.
1583. W. M., in Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 4), II. 2139. Let Gods word be vnpere, To try our true religion, From this euill fauoured geere.
1600. Rowland, Lett. Humours Blood, v. 73. Make Steele and Iron vmpiers to the Fray.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xvi. 48. As if the Law were the sole umpire between King and people.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, III. i. § 9. It is a sign there is little of reason left, where sense is made the only Umpire of all kinds of Beings.
1696. Dogget, Country-Wake, III. ii. 30. Your Conscience must be Umper in this Case.
1718. Rowe, trans. Lucan, I. 205. The Sword is now the Umpire to decide.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 29. The judgment, umpire in the strife That grace and nature have to wage through life.
1805–6. Cary, Dante, Inf., XXII. 140. In the boiling lake both fell. The heat Was umpire soon between them.
1878. Browning, La Saisiaz, 55. Take thou, soul, thy solitary stand, Umpire to the champions Fancy, Reason.
† c. Something that stands between others either by way of connection or separation. Obs.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. Eden, 392. For spirits … ’Twixt God and man retein a middle kinde; And (Umpires) mortall th’ immortall joine.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 745. Those mountaines, which … interpose themselves as Umpiers and Bounders between diverse shires.
2. Law. A third person appointed or called upon to decide a matter submitted to arbitrators who cannot agree. Cf. REFEREE sb. 2.
1464. Cov. Leet Bk., 329. If in the mean tyme the seid iiij arbitrours can not accorde that then the seid Mair to be unpar. Ibid. That … as the a-fore named iiij arbitrours … cowde not accorde, that then the seid mair to be vmper.
1552. Huloet, Impier or umpier, a iudge or mediatoure taken besydes arbitors to deme a matter debated, wher the arbitrors can not agree, sequestor.
1556. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 257. To abyde the arbytrament of … arbytrators,… and that Mr. Pollard shalbe umper.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Umpire, a third Person chosen to put a final End to a Controversy left to the Determination of two Arbitrators.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 16. If they [sc. the arbitrators] do not agree, it is usual to add, that another person be called in as umpire (imperator), to whose sole judgment it is then referred.
1838. W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 692. An oversman is an umpire appointed by a submission to decide where two arbiters have differed in opinion, or he is named by the arbiters themselves.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXV. 501/2. The word umpire … in its legal sense … means a person named in the Submission, or under its authority, by the arbitrators to decide the matters referred, which the arbitrators either cannot or will not decide.
3. In games or contests: One to whose decision all doubtful points are referred, and who sees that the rules of the game or sport are not broken. Cf. REFEREE sb. 3 b.
1714. in Parkyns, Inn-Play (ed. 2), 63. [Wrestling], And in case they can’t Decide such Differences, then they shall be referr’d solely to the Decision of the said Sir Thomas Parkyns as Umpire.
1778. C. Jones, Hoyle’s Games Impr., 201. The Umpires are the sole Judges of fair and unfair Play, and have a Power to determine all Disputes.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., vii. The umpires were stationed behind the wickets.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, II. viii. Their leading men and umpire inspected the ground, criticising it rather unmercifully.
1884. Times, 15 Sept., 7/3. [Football], Mr. Walker officiated as referee, and Messrs. Davies and Bryan as umpires.
attrib. 1889. Infantry Drill, 406. Umpire Regulations. Ibid., 407. Orders from the Umpire Staff are to be considered as emanating directly from the Umpire-in-Chief.
