▪ I. colleague, n.
(ˈkɒliːg)
Forms: (6 colege, Sc. collig, collige, 7 college), 7–9 collegue, 8 coliegue, 6– colleague.
[a. F. collègue, ad. L. collēga, one chosen along with another, a partner in office, etc.; f. col- together + legĕre to choose, etc. In 17th c. still commonly accented on the second syllable. Not etymologically related to next word.]
1. One who is associated with another (or others) in office, or special employment; strictly, said of those who stand in the same relationship to their electors, or to the office which they jointly discharge. (Not applied to partners in trade or manufacture.)
| [1524 R. Pace [at Lucca] in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. App. xi. 22 His collega Trenouls had not according to promise written to hym syns his departeur.] a 1533 Frith Wks. 61 (R.) They would geue no more place..then S. Paule gaue to Peter hys colleague. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 293 Sanct Augustyne, wit his Collige Melletus. 1580 North Plutarch (1676) 531 His Collegue and fellow-Consul Catulus. 1658 Bramhall Consecr. Bps. vi. 137 Being demanded..how Parker and his Collegues were consecrated Bishops. a 1661 B. Holyday Juvenal 166 Marius, though of mean birth, was yet a nobleman's college. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. I. 389 He had associated three colleagues in the exercise of the supreme power. 1851 Gladstone Glean. IV. 4 The treaty..upon..which, as a Colleague of your Lordship, I had the honour to be employed. |
b. transf. and fig.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 254 The intolerable rage of their stoned horses towards their colleagues and guides. 1652 J. Hall Height of Eloq. Introd. 25 Another vertue collegue to these is Amplification. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 59 Mercie collegue with Justice. 1822 Procter (B. Cornwall) Juan i, This night Shall be my colleague in a desperate act. |
† 2. One of two or more leagued together; a confederate, an ally. Obs. rare—1. [cf. next.]
| 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals iii. ii. 278 The Colleagues against Aldobrandino. |
▪ II. colleague, v.
(kəˈliːg)
Also 6 collige; pa. pple. 6 Sc. collegit, 7 col-leaged, colleged.
[ad. OF. colliguer, colleguer, to join in alliance, unite, ad. L. colligāre to bind together: spelt in F. in conformity with léguer, in Eng. with league. (Not related etymologically to colleague n.)]
† 1. trans. To join in alliance, to ally, unite, associate. (Chiefly in pa. pple.) Obs.
| c 1534 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camd. Soc.) I. 219 These howses thei usuallie call Colleges, beecause they are ther Colliged in felawship and ministerie. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 347 With sic ane prince..To be collegit baith into ane band. 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. ii. 21. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. viii. (1632) 551 The Earle of Flanders (now col-leaged with King John). 1749 G. West tr. Pindar 11th Nemean Ode (R.), Pisander..colleagued in high command With great Orestes. |
† b. refl. = 2. Obs.
| 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe (1871) 78 These birds of a feather, that had so colleagued themselves together, to destroy them. a 1619 Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626) 4 The Brittaines..colleague themselues against the Romanes. 1651 Howell Venice 180 Lewis..colleagud himself with divers other Princes. |
2. intr. (from refl.) To enter into a league or alliance; to unite; to cooperate for a common end; also in a bad sense, to conspire, cabal.
| c 1565 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (1728) 12 If he would fully leave the chancellor..and colleague with the earl of Douglas. 1614 W. B. Philosopher's Banquet (ed. 2) 23 Vse and custome..do..incorporate and colleague with vs. 1652 Howell Masaniello ii. 33 Colleguing with that people. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. I. ii. xi. 164 King Johann..colleagued diligently with the hostile Pope. |
Hence coˈlleagued ppl. a., coˈlleaguing vbl. n.
| 1605 Answ. to Supposed Discov. Romish Doctr. Ep. Ded. 5 Your colleged Princes, the King of Spain, and Arch-duke. 1796 Mod. Gulliver's Trav. 176 My colleagued ministers. 1817 G. Chalmers Churchyard's Chips Pref. 24 Churchyard, seeing some colleaguing among the papists, wrote to Cecil. |