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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Preclare, -clair(e, adj. Also: præclair. [L. præclār-us very clear, very bright, but chiefly as a general term of commendation, like the Sc. word; also 17th c. e.m.E. preclare (1623), but chiefly Sc.]In senses 1 and 2 chiefly in verse.

1. Of a voice: Sounding loudly and clearly. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. Prol. 63.
A voice I hard preclair as Phebus schone c1590 J. Stewart 261 §241.
Ane heawenlie harrang … Pronuncit scho vith desert voce preclair

2. a. Of things that shine or give light, as the sun, jewels, etc.: Bright, shining, lustrous. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 212.
Ane goldin chair, Ouirfret with perle and stanis maist preclair 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 547.
Margareit our heych & mychtie princes … That peirle preclare [Pitsc. preclair] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 112.
The Orient perle baith precious and preclair 15.. Clar. iii 264.
As goldin Phebus the bricht illuminar Ascendit in the orient preclair Ib. v 532.
Upon ane couschen of claith of gold preclaire a1585 Maitl. Q. xlviii 22. Ib. lxv 31. c1590 J. Stewart 263 §252.
The tuelt [wall was formed] of purpour amatist preclair 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. viii 28.
Thoise eyes … Dispersing by thair beimes preclair The clouds of thy disdaining Id. Doomesday 797.
In righteousnesse thy face preclare Who viewing satisfied are

b. Of persons: Illustrious, renowned.(a) 1531 Bell. Boece I xiv.
Mars, Hercules, and othir men preclare Ib. civ.
My soverane maist preclare 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 65.
The geneologiis of progenitoris, kingis, princis, and of otheris preclare nobles(b) a1568 Henr.? in Bann. MS. 25 b/73.
O prince preclair! this cair cotidiane … distort it in exyle 1535 Stewart 59346.
Had he ane sone with this Katherene preclair Id. Maitl. F. lxxxi 13.
Throw the erde … Thow art the … most preclair of progenie c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 13.
Sum wryt of preclair conquerouris c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 422.
Befoir Venus, as ladie most preclair a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xix 1.
Excellant princes potent and preclair 1580 Hume Promine 64. 1595 Three Reformers 105. c1590 J. Stewart 122/15.
All the gratius nymphs preclair Ib. 35/188; 147/2. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxviii 6. 1607 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 68.
All thingis concurris to mak thé most preclair

c. Of places, visible objects or features of scenery: Splendid, magnificent, fine. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 591.
The portratour of that place preclare By geomatre it is inmesurabyll c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 49.
Into ane gairth preclair Ib. ii 121.
Thair manerit mans sa perfyit and preclair 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 170.
Stratherne, … Plenisit with plesand policie preclair 1567 G. Ball. 91.
To reueris sweit, pure, and preclair, He dryuis me 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 5.
Wald thow gude reider haue ane strenth preclair, Maist strang and stark to rin to in distres c1590 J. Stewart 84/164.
Monie seimlie frondise trie preclair Ib. 266 §262.
Vithin this New Ierusalem preclair 1598 Melvill Propine 142.
As I me walked in a morning faire, I saw a ship preclaire

d. In other applications: Splendid, excellent, fine. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiii 27.
Welcum, my pensioun most preclair 15.. Clar. i 686.
The King of Spaine he had ane sister fair, … of collouris rycht preclaire a1568 Bann. MS. 86 a/29.
Peirles in pryce in pulchritude preclare c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv 1.
Howbeit thow war of portrature preclair

e. Freq. coupled with plesand, -ant.(a) 15.. Dunb. To London 26.
London … Whose beryall stremys, pleasaunt and preclare, Under thy lusty wallys renneth down c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxix 2.(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii 65.
O potent princes, pleasant and preclair 1535 Stewart 2016.
Richt ȝoung he wes, bayth plesand and preclair Ib. 3146, 5569, 41275. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 456. 15.. Clar. iii 2324.
Claithes … plesant and preclair, With rich furringis Ib. v 2210.
All kingis, queinis, and the ladies fair, War set on scaffalds plesand and preclaire a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxv 86. a1585 Maitl. Q. xl 68.
Ane roise maist plesand & preclair

3. Of attributes, qualities or actions of persons: Distinguished, excellent, noble.(a) 1533 Boece 169.
Nocht forȝetting that preclare actis of nobill men suld be honorit Ib. 210 b.
With deuocion and preclare virtewis Ib. 250.
Be sic policie the fame of Dongard was preclare Ib. 386. 1596 Dalr. I 92/18.
Famous & preclare exemples of men of renoume Ib. 259/13.
The … gout … vttirlie ouirthrew his preclare jugementis 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 3.
Æneas' vertue and his stemme preclare(b) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 133.
The beriall of bewtie And portratour preclair 1567 G. Ball. 87.
This day Thy deide purchest victorie preclair a1585 Maitl. Q. xl 93. c1590 J. Stewart 71/61.
Thy luifers all and chastetie preclair 1596 Dalr. I 117/2.
Quhais myndes deip and præclair studies hes decored [etc.] Ib. 1/4, etc. c1600 Montg. Suppl. iv 2.