† Perse, n.1 Obs.
Forms: 4–6 pl. Perses, -is, 5–6 sing. Pers. Also (pl.) 4–5 Persees, -eis, 5 -ies, Percys, -eys: see Parsee.
[a. OF. Perses pl.:—L. Persās, in nom. Persæ Persians (whence, also, OE. had Perse, pl. Perseas).]
A Persian; pl. Persians.
| [c 893 K. ælfred Oros. ii. v. §2 Þa wæron ða Perse mid þæm swiþe ᵹeeᵹsade. Ibid., On Perseum.] 1382 Wyclif Dan. v. 28 Thi kyngdam is departed, and is ȝoven to Medis and to Persis. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xv. cxviii. (MS. Add. 27. 944), Þider Nemroth þe geaunt went..and tauȝt þe perses [v.r. Persis] to worschepe þe sonne. 1552 Lyndesay Monarche 3783 The ram with hornis two, Comparit tyll Pers and Mede, all so. 1568 Bible (Bishops') Dan. vi. 12 The lawe of the Medes and Perses that altereth not. |