A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1617
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Empire, Empyr(e, n. Also: empyir. [ME. empire (c 1330), empyre, OF. empire. Cf. Impyre n.]
1. The empire, the Roman (or Holy Roman) empire.a1400 Legends of the Saints vii. 728.
Twa ȝere fra Vaspasyane Of the empyre the state had tane a1400 Ib. xxx. 38. c1420 Wynt. iv. 2386.
Octovyane, … gouernyd stoutly the empyre c1420 Ib. v. 4427.
Efftyre hym off the empyre Zeno was full lord and syre 1456 Hay I. 187/6.
He gerris mak tailles and imposiciouns apon all subjectis of the Empire 1456 Ib. 211/36.
Ȝit will we say … that the king of Fraunce is in nathing subject to the Empire c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 965.
Gret Julius, [that] the empyr had in hand 1562-3 Winȝet II. 49/2.
Quhow worschipful wes he [sc. Origen] … to the Empyre self, … the historiis declaris 1602 Colville Parænese 113.
The Romane Empyir vhilk in S. Iohns dayis did domin
2. An empire; a state ruled by an emperor.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvi. 502.
Set me nomare in sic effray, Bot for me & myne empyre pray c1420 Wynt. iv. 2451.
All the men off his empyre, … empryowre thai wald hym calle c1420 Ib. v. 51.
Quhare throuch the warld is halyly … subject tyll ane empyre ?1438 Alex. i. 213.
Of Gaderis the empire Cummis vpon vs sturdely 1456 Hay I. 36/20.
The thrid realme or empire was Macedone a1500 Henr. III. 126/11.
Thy kindome and thy grit empyre … Sall nocht indure at thy desyre c1515 Asloan MS I. 168/21.
The realme of Mesopotanea and the empyre of Pers 1533 Bell. Livy I. 129/19.
Gif he … had deponit ony of the kingis afore rehersit fra thare empire and kingdome 1617 Mure Misc. P. xxi. 19.
Thogh thou by armes gret empyrs may'st emprise
3. Supreme power or domination.c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 509.
Had he tane pes, … The haill empyr he mycht haiff conquest then c1500 Fyve Bestes 295.
He … the folk desyrit … To be subiect to his hie empyre 1513 Doug. i. v. 11.
O thow, … quhilk governys … Baith goddis and men be thyne eterne empyre1513 Ib. vi. 63.
Quhar Dido quene rewlis the empyre1513 Ib. 87.
To thame grant haue I Perpetual empyre 1531 Bell. Boece I. 15.
Best is to chese ane amang us to have empire above the laif 1533 Id. Livy I. 225/6.
The consul … mon obey to all empire and charge of tribunis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 50/5.
Sik a king as appropriat to him self empyre and power a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxx. 120.
In the warld the prince of darkness hes empyre
