A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420-1615, 1690-1691
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Impire, Impyre, n. Also: impir, impyir(e. [Var. of Empire n., common in the 16th c.]
1. The impire, the Roman (or Holy Roman) Empire.c1420 Wynt. ix. 2956.
Confermyt he wes elect off Legis, That bischoprike in the impire is 1456 Hay I. 209/34.
All the lawis civile sais that all the naciouns … ar all subject to the Impire 1533 Boece vii. iii. 224.
Ane strang army was collectit to distroye the Romane Impire 1535 Stewart 30578.
Suppois the Scottis haif richt greit desyre To be allyit with the hie impyre [of Charlemagne] 1581 Burne Cath. Tr. 159/25.
Martin Lauter quha hes destroyit the Catholik religion … throuch the hale Latine impyre a1691 Kingston Contin. Ho. Seytoun 51.
The Emperess Irene … who governed the impire … ten year
2. An empire, generally; a state ruled by an emperor.c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 37.
Syne thay sall … preiche in erth the Antechrysts impyre c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1988.
The Grekis … Perfors optenit the thrid impyre c1552 Ib. 3709.
All thir greit impyris ar gane 1559 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 89.
Nebuchodonozer … wes cassin from his impyre as ane best 1596 Dalr. I. 240/3.
Sa monie nationis, impyres, and kingdomes
b. An independent sovereign state; a realm.1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2122.
The King … In his impyre, ane cry he gart proclame 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 542.
Out of all my landis and impyre I sal be cairfull to ruit out all herecy 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 75/7.
To debar his g[race] from sic iust impyris quhilk … he may … iustlie inioy 1596 Dalr. I. 75/22.
Hiber … enlairget the impire baith in lenth and bredh
c. transf. And fig.1533 Gau 40/35.
His [sc. Christ's] impir sall be multipleit 1570 Satirical Poems xx. 163.
Let Caleb … and Josue seik The promysit impyre a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS clxx. 37.
The impyir Quhair god sic schreuis sall frome his sanctis dissewir 1587-99 Hume 37/105.
The sea and earth, and all this haile impire, Sall be brunt vp
3. Supreme power, sovereignty, dominion, as exercised by an emperor or other sovereign. Also fig.1513 Doug. xiii. x. 25.
O Jupiter, … The Troian pepill … Thyne admonitions, command, and impyre Obeyt has 1533 Boece i. vi. 45 b.
Ambition of oure impire … has kindillit ȝow to batell 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 13.
Power nor gloir, impyre nor tryne, Is nane in heuin, nor eird. bot thyne a1578 Pitsc. I. 69/6.
Money of the nobillis invyand the impyre and governance of the Duke of Gloscester, quho was chossin protectour 1596 Dalr. I. 271/25.
The Peichtes be na meanes wil suffir to be vndir the impire of a stranger c1615 Chron. Kings 18.
Adrianus … arrywing in Brittane … To pacifie sick misordouris … aganis his impyirfig. 15.. Clariodus v. 2072.
Lucine of the hevine had the impyre
4. Domination, command, ascendancy, rule.1556 Knox IV. 240.
Partlie year impeidit be impyre of your heid1561 St. A. Kirk S. 63.
To haif ... rendered dew benevolence to me as husband ... to ... wyfe and nocht to beare impyre abone me as ane tyran1569-73 Bann. Memor. 29.
A peceable … conference, whair will … [be] no place to impyre nor bragging 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. v.
I did inqvire … Quho Prences wes, or had impire Of that maist frolick fry c1600 Montg. Suppl. viii. 15.
To inspyre ȝour hert to myne … , That ȝouris ower myne may haif impyre 1603 Philotus l.
The impyre parents hes be law Abuif thair children ay
5. The reign of an emperor or monarch.c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke iii. 1.
In the xv yere of the impire of Tiberie Cesare 1531 Bell. Boece I. 17.
Fra the impire of Brutis in Britane, [837] yeris 1567 Satirical Poems vi. 71.
During his impyre
