ˈsubˌprior
[a. OF. subprieur (14th c.), med.L. subprior, var. of supprior supprior: see sub- 6 and prior n. Cf. ME. sousprior s.v. sous-, and mod.F. sousprieur (from 13th c.).]
A prior's assistant and deputy.
| 1340 Ayenb. 67 Þe abbottes and þe priours and hire officials ase subprior and þe oþre. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 482/1 Subpriowre, subprior. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 24 §8 Sub⁓priour of the said hospital of sainte John of Jerusalem. 1641 Prynne Antipathie 33 Hubert being dead the Monkes of Canterbury..elected Reginald their Sub-prior, for his Successour. 1767 Burn Eccles. Law (ed. 2) IV. 456 In every priory, next under the prior was the sub-prior, who assisted the prior whilst present, and acted in his stead when absent. 1868 Morris Earthly Par. (1890) 51/1 An old reverend man The sub-prior. |
So ˈsubˌprioress.
| c 1660 in J. Morris Troubles Cath. Forefathers (1872) Ser. i. vi. 257 For Subprioress she appointed Sister Anne Tremaine. c 1789 in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. IX. 398 She fulfilled several important offices in the Community such as Subprioress, Mistress of Novices, and Cellerere. |