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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Senatour, n. Also: senatoure, -towr, -tor, -tur(e, cenat(o)ur, -tur, seanatour, sanatour, synator, -tur. [ME and e.m.E. senatur (Layamon), senatour (c1290), sinatoure (14th c.), cenatoure (c1400), senator (1586), OF senator, senateur (c1130 and c1165 in Larousse), L. senātor a member of the Roman Senate.] A senator.

1. A member of a senate. a. A member of the senate of ancient Rome.(a) a1400 Leg. S. v 51.
Domiciane … wes slane that ȝere, And the senaturis a gane can call The sentence a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 36.
Hyr fadir, of gret mycht A senatur, that Philpe hicht a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 73.
Senatoure c1420 Wynt. iv 1605.
Senatowrys c1420 Wynt. v 4489.
Boece, mast off the senatowrys c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 3.
Schewing [the] counsele of philosophye, Compilit by that noble senatoure Off Rome 1456 Hay I 41/32. 1456 Hay I 42/11, 15.
[Romulus] chesit a thousand men of armis … and callit thai hundreth wys men senatouris … and thir war the first senatouris that ever was in Rome c1460 Regim. Princ. 141 (Fairf.).
Quhen Rome was reget be wysmen cenatouris [Marchm. cenaturis, Maitl. senaturis, Ch. & M. senatouris] a1500 Henr. Orph. 415.
Boece that senature To wryte this feynit fable tuke in cure c1515 Asl. MS I 153/4.
Julius Cesar be counsall of the senatouris and ald men of Rome lukit and serchit storyis and bukis of his eldaris 1533 Bell. Livy I 107/30.
The ordoure of senatouris for thare few nowmer suld be the lest estymyt a1538 Abell 46a.
Boetius senatur be Theodorik put in presone c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4192.(b) 1513 Doug. Comm. i v 102.
Sanatouris

b. A member of a senate or similar body in other ancient states. 1460 Hay Alex. 4580.
Than all the lordis and the senatouris [sc. of Jerusalem] [etc.] … semblit all into ane parliament 1513 Doug. i vii 17.
Sum [sc. Tyrians] chesis officeris the lawys forto kepe With counsalouris and senatouris, wys folkis [L. Jura magistratusque legunt sanctumque senatum] 1513 Doug. viii iii 22.
The sobir senatouris, [sc. of Arcadia], and puyr officeris, All sammyn kest ensens 1549 Compl. 117/23.
The senaturs & inhabitaris of Spart

c. A Lord of Parliament. a1578 Pitsc. I 25/25.
He [sc. William, 6th Earl of Douglas] creatit senatouris of the parliament within his awin boundis as he haid beine ane king

d. A leader or statesman, more generally. ?1438 Alex. i 1019.
Ingramound … was ane mychty cenatour And held grete lordschip and honour

2. A Senator of the College of Justice, a judge of the Court of Session. = Lord n. I 14 e. 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 121.
Prouest, baillies, and lordis of the toun, The senatouris in ordour consequent 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3845 (Ch.).
Ilk senature for that erectioun … Sall haue fyue hundreth mark of pensioun 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 56.
Anentis the article proponit in the name of the Lordis Senatouris of the College of Justice 1548–9 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 584.
To the senatouris of the session c1552 Lynd. Mon. 381.
Begyn at pure lawe creaturis, Ascending syne to synaturis 1555 Acts Sederunt i 55.
The lordis of the College of Justice findis … that the multitude of supernumerare lordis adionit to the President and fourtene ordinar senatouris is aganis the erectioun of the … actis 1564 Reg. Privy S. V i 466/2. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 431/59.
Wald thi henes thairfoir eik the numer Off senatoris, men cuning & godlie c1575 Balfour Pract. 514.
Quhatsumever maner of persoun … hurtis cruellie ony senatour … of our soverane lord's sessioun or college of justice, thay sall be … accusit as committaris of the crimes of lese-majestie 1579 Acts III 153/2. 1579–80 Reg. Privy S. VII 361/1.
Ane of the senatouris ordinaris of his College of Justice and Sessioun ?c1604–5 Sc. Hist. Rev. XIX 267.
In the other greate roome … there is a judgment seatt and one or two of the seanatours sittinge there for discidinge … matters … not of greate moment. Which howse is called the utter howse 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 40.
I could not posabillie conuein the senatures of the Colleges of Justes 1649 Acts VI ii 283/2.
Sir Hew Campbell of Cessnok, Allexander Brodie of that ilk [etc.] … and Mr. Robert M^cgill of Fuird to be eght ordinar lordis of sessioune and senatouris of the colledge of justice 1654 Retours II Inq. Spec. Peebles (133).
Synators 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 247.
Cenatour 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 136.
That chamber-pots are looking-glasses; And senators of justice, asses