A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
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Imperial(l, adj.1 Also: -alle, imperyalle, -eall, inperieall; imperiale; inperiell. [ME. imperyall, imperial(l (Chaucer), L. imperiālis. Cf. Emperiall a.]
1. Pertaining to the Roman or Holy Roman Empire, or to the (Roman or German) Emperor. c1420 Wynt. v. 1277.
The empryoure Schyre Adriane … made lawys imperialle 1456 Hay I. 24/28.
And as the mone takis fra the sonne hir licht, sa dois the dignitee imperiale fra the dignitee papale 1469 Acts II. 95/1.
That ful faith be given to all instrumentis gevin of before be the imperiale notaris
2. a. Pertaining to any empire or emperor. b. Pertaining to any great sovereign state or its ruler.(a) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1427.
He wald bere no croun imperiall Quhill [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 147.
Imperiall birth, honour and dignite 1513 Doug. vii. iv. 46.
Thar stude a gret tempil or sail ryall Of Lawrent cite seyt imperiall [R. impereall] 1533 Bell. Livy I. 215/10.
The consull, clothit in his cote armoure and habit imperiall c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1976.
As quhen one prouince … Had hole power imperiall … Abufe all … nationis Ib. 4134.
Thir foure gret monarcheis In thare most hiest pompe imperiallis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8849.
Considdering I am of blude royall Discendit doun of stock imperiall a1578 Pitsc. II. 129/3.
The imperieall croun of Scottland togither witht the septar … thairof(b) 1456 Hay I. 107/28.
Ȝit is thare sindry othir realmes … the quhilkis has be writt thair jurisdiccioun imperiale Ib. 209/16.
The King of France may … us all power … ryall and imperiale c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvii. 5.
Our chairbunkle chosin of hye imperiale blud, Our roys riale(c) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4555.
Ane nobill kaip imperiell [: tell], … For princely and imperiall fulis
3. fig. and transf. Supreme, pre-eminent, excellent. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 254.
O reuerend Chaucere … in our tong ane flour imperiall 1513 Doug. Æn. Direct. 58.
Of eloquence the flude, … Soverane fontane and flume imperiall 15.. Clar. iii. 988.
Hir bewtie that stude imperiall Abouth all uther ladies that was thair Ib. iv. 732.
b. absol. as noun: The supreme being. 15.. Dunb. App. xi. 39.
Beseiking him … Us to ressave … In to the hevin quhair the imperiall ringis
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"Imperial adj.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 21 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/imperiall_adj_1>
