viceroy, n.
(ˈvaɪsrɔɪ)
Also 6–7 viceroye, 6 wize roy, vizeroye (7 -roy), 6–7 vizroy; 6–7 pl. -roies.
[a. older F. vice-roy, visroy (F. vice-roi), f. vice- vice- + roi king. So It. viceré, Pg. vicerei, Sp. virey.
Formerly freq. written or printed with hyphen and occas. as two words.]
1. One who acts as the governor of a country, province, etc., in the name and by the authority of the supreme ruler; a vice-king.
| α 1524 Chron. Calais (Camden) 34 The xxiiij. of February Frauncis the Frenche kynge was taken prisoner..by the vice-roy of Naples. 1555 Eden Decades (Arb.) 103 Inacus Iopez Mendocius,..viceroye of Granata. 1598 R. Barckley Felic. Man iii. (1603) 241 The part rather of a tyrant then of a vice-roy. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 135 The custome being in Persia, that in the necessary absence of the Prince in State, the Heire apparent was Vice-roy. 1698 J. Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 151 A long Gallery, hung round with the Pictures at length of all the Vice-Roys that had been in East India down to the present Vice-Roy. 1737 Gentl. Mag. VII. 685/2 His Catholick Majesty's..dispatching all the necessary Orders to his Vice-Roys, Governors, and other Officers. 1787 A. Hamilton Wks. (1886) VII. 15 The government lately established in Canada—the splendid title of Viceroy—seems to look beyond the dreary regions of Canada and Nova Scotia. 1808 Pike Sources Mississ. iii. App. 4 The whole political government of the vice-roy of Mexico. 1877 W. R. Cooper Egypt. Obelisks xi. (1878) 61 This obelisk..was presented to the late Duke of Northumberland..by the Viceroy of Egypt. 1880 Encycl. Brit. XII. 768/1 The supreme authority over all British India..is vested..in the viceroy or governor-general-in-Council. |
| β 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. lxxvi. 156 b, And so they remained untill the comming of the Vizeroye Don Francisco de Almeda. 1590 Webbe Trav. (Arb.) 24 These 60 Kings are all his Wize Royes in seuerall places. 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 236 The vizeroies of that huge tract do acknowledge him for their soueraigne and supreme gouernour. 1620 Dekker His Dream Wks. (Grosart) III. 20 About him, round (Like petty Viz-royes), Spirits (me thought) all-Crownde. |
2. transf. One having authority or rank comparable to that of a viceroy.
| c 1590 Greene Friar Bacon 178 Now Maisters of our Academicke State, That rule in Oxford, Vizroies in your place. 1591 Lambarde Archeion (1635) 97 The King..is within his owne Kingdome the Vice-roy of God. a 1631 Donne Serm. i. (1634) 21 God creates man whom He constitutes His Vice-roy in the world. 1644 [H. Parker] Jus Populi 45 The Judges were Gods Vice-Roys, in regard they did transact affairs by direction from Gods own mouth. 1676 Grew Anat. Pl., Exper. Luct. 238 For what Dominion a Prince hath over the Moral, that a Physician hath, as one of God Almighty's Vice-Roys, over the Corporeal World. 1818 Lady Morgan Autobiog. (1859) 279 When Barras reigned, and the beautiful Madame Tallien reigned viceroy over him. 1827 Scott Chron. Canongate iii, Christie Steele was my mother's body servant, her very right hand, and..something like a viceroy over her. |
| attrib. 1656 Cowley Chronicle Wks. (1905) 41 But in her place I then obey'd Black-ey'd Bess, her Viceroy-Maid; To whom ensu'd a Vacancy. |
3. Ent. An American species of butterfly,
Basilarchia Archippus, distinguished by handsome red and black colouring.
| 1881 S. H. Scudder Butterflies vii. 103 The caterpillar of the Viceroy signifies its displeasure at any disturbance by tossing the head upward. |
Hence
ˈviceroy v. (with
it), to rule as or like a viceroy.
| 1821 Examiner 596/1 They, forsooth, may viceroy it over authority with propriety. |