A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Superiorité, -ty, -tie, n. Also: superioritee, -yte, superyoryte, superiouritie, superioretie, -atie, -ate, supperio(u)ritie. [e.m.E. superiorite (1526), MF superiorite (1453 in Larousse), med. L. superioritat-, f. as Superio(u)r adj.]
1. Superior or supreme rank, authority or status; the right to rule over or command others.c1420 Wynt. viii 823.
Excellend Prynce (he sayd), and Kyng, Yhe ask ws ane unleffull thyng, That is superyoryte; We ken rycht noucht, quhat that suld be 1456 Hay I 213/19.
Behald that the emperoure … had na superioritee of Gally, na was nocht under na subjectioun na truage till him 1456 Hay I 299/23.
And he kepe wele thir termes, he is … worthy to be a king and till have superioritee and soveranitee 1490 Irland Mir. III 80/3, 4.
Sene thai [sc. priests] ar in mar dignite and the lawde pepil in his dignite and vnder thame thar is superiorite and inferiorite & quhar thar is inferiorite & superiorite thar is ordour 1549 Lamb Resonyng 55/19.
As to … the Ingland kyngis superioritie in Scotland, ȝour buik … makis mair diligence and labour for to deduce that pretendit superiorite 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 4.
That the Quene and croun of Scotland be deliverit frome the superioritie challenged by the Bischop of Rome a1650 Row 21.
Because in commune speech, the name of a bishop wes appropriated to some who had these benefices, the Generall Assemblie … lyked not the same, as savouring of some superioritie, whilk they thought should not be in the persone of any one man in God's Kirk
2. The condition of being stronger than an enemy, rival, or the like. Also fig.1535 Stewart 57626.
Siclike the tother [sc. clan] wes inclynd thairtill Maistrie to haif and superioritie 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 256.
[They] past … to Lennox, quhair thaj herijt the pooris in thaj pairtis … quhair euer thaj gat supperiouritie over thamefig. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 188.
Fra time the sin hath gotten superioritie in them, … it commandeth them more absolutely then a prince would command his subject
3. The position or status of feudal superior (Superio(u)r n. 1), the rights which an overlord enjoys in the land, etc. held by his vassals, specif. feu-duties and services or casualties as stipulated at the granting of the land. Also in superiorite and const. of (land, etc.).1402–3 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 207.
[Ac superioritas terrarum ecclesiasticarum de Oven 1458 Reg. Dunferm. 350.]
Et superioritatem dictarum terrarum … Tenendam et habendam(1) 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 28.
Qwat sum euer thai … that makis claime or question in to the superiorite or to the saide lande 1466 (1471) Reg. Great S. 215/2.
Our soverain lord is cled with the superiorite of the said landis … baith in Parliament and in Justice-are c1476 Lennox Mun. 108.
Scho may nocht be ayr to the superiorite, quhilk is apropyrryt euer to the eldest 1489 Acta Conc. I 123/2.
The lordis of consale decrettis … that … oure souerane lord has na richt to the said superioryte 1498 Acta Conc. II 253.
[Assigning to the pursuers that day to prove] the availe of ilkane of the superioriteis be thame self 1503–4 Acta Conc. III (1993) 183.
The … erle of Menteith, had nowthir propirte, superiorite nor uthiris entires til the sadis half landis 1516–17 Reg. Privy S. I 447/2.
All and sindry landis properte, tenandry, superiorite and annuale rentis that pertenit to umquhile schir William Ogilvy 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La.iii.388a, 139.
Sumondis of tinsall of superioriteis past vpone chargis of fourtie dayes preceding conforme to the act of parliament c1575 Balfour Pract. 165.
Gif ane superiour of perfeit age lyis furth of his landis, in defraud of his tenent or vassall, and beand chargit, refusis to enter and thairby forefaltis and tynes the superioritie for his lifetime he may nevertheles sell and annalȝie the said superioritie 1622-6 Bisset I 94/35.
We exeme and totallie frie … all the clerkis … frome all jurisdictioun superioritie [etc.] … of ony … bischopis c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 514.
The lordship of Lorne consisteth of 700 merkland devyded among sundrie possessours the superioritie pertayneth to the earles of Argyll 1650 Glasgow Chart. II 10.
The samyne superioritie and few dewtie to be frie, … fra all … appryseingis, … disclamationes, nullities, forfaltouris [etc.] 1681 Stair Inst. ii iv § 2.
When the right of lands fall [sic] to the king by the casuality of his superiority, as by forfeiture, recognition, bastardy or last heir [etc.] c1710 Lanark & R. 47.
The house, maynes, and superiorties were disponed to James Summervall(2) 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 529/2.
Landis … pertening to … Johne lord Erskin in propirte, and to umquhile Johne erle of Levinax in superiorite 1542 Reg. Privy S. II 726/1.
Liand in the lordschip of Houstoun … quhilk pertenit to umquhill Johne Houstoun of that ilk in superiorite 1554 Inverness Sheriff Ct. 28.
The said fardin land is haldin in superioritie off the ayris off William Angus(3) 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 28.
He and … his son sal gif vpe and resigne in … the kingis handis al richt and claime … in to the superiorite of the landis of Hauthornsike c1420 Wynt. viii 805.
This kyng than proponyd … That the superyoryte … off Scotland hys suld be 1432 Lamont P. 13.
Anens the superiorite at the said Robert clamis to haff of the landis of the Arde … that [etc.] 1482 Acta Aud. 105/1.
Johne … schew ane instrument of his sesing of the superiorite of the landis 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 46.
The accione … persewit be … his son … , feare of the superiorite of the sammyn landis 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 124.
The accione … [persewit] … aganis Alexander Fresere … to have enterit to the superiorite of the landis callit Auchȝouch 1498 Reg. Privy S. I 32/1.
That our soveran lord be the law recover … the superiorate of the said landis 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 381.
The sade Georg til tyne his superiorite of the sadis landis for his tyme 1501 Acta Conc. III (1993) 51.
Patrik, Lord Lindesay, askit ane instrument that his son, Jhone Lindesay, was in fe of the superiorite of the landis and that thai pertenit til him as superior thairof 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 429/1.
Ane lettre of regres made to Alexander Erle of Huntlie, of all and hale the superiorite of … the forest of Boyne 1555 Irons Leith II 603.
To have sauld … all and haill his superioritie of the town of Leyth 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. I 505.
Superioretie 1558-66 Knox I 427.
Superioratie c1575 Balfour Pract. 229. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 84.
The principallis of … Edinburgh aggreit … to lend thair majesties ten thowsand merkis vpoun the superiouritie of Leith vnder the reversioun a1578 Pitsc. I 24/2.
Allane Stewart Lord of Darlie … or he dieit obteanit the supperioritie of the Lennox fra the king 1600 Crim. Trials II 104.
Ane false chartour … of … twa oxgait of land callit the Quarter-land of Nig, with the fourth pairt of the kill thairof, and superioritie of ane oxgait of land in Meig 1606 Chart. Coupar A. II 218.
The temporalitie propertie and superioritie with the fewfermes and dewteis of the abbacie and monassterie of Couper … being in his maiesteis handis be ressoun of the generall annexatioun of the kirklandis of … Scotland 1688 Craven Ch. in Orkney 129.
Granting … to the said Andrew … superiorities of all and sundry lands pertaining to the said bishoprick
