▪ I. departer1
(dɪˈpɑːtə(r))
[f. depart v. + -er1: probably a. OF. departeur (nom. case orig. departère, obj. departeor), f. départir to depart.]
† 1. A divider, distributor; discerner. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Luke xii. 14 A! man, who ordeynede me domesman, ether departer, on ȝou? ― Hebr. iv. 12 The word of God is..departer or demer of thouȝtis and intenciouns of hertis. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 61 He is not ordeind juge ne departar vp on men. |
† 2. Old Chem. One who separates a metal from an alloy; a refiner of gold or silver. Cf. parter.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr. s.v. Finour, Finours of Gold and Silver..A[ct] 4 H[en.] 7. ca. 2. They be also called Parters in the same place; sometimes Departers. |
3. One who separates or secedes from a body or cause; a seceder. (Now merged in sense 4.)
| 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 311 A departer from his Captaynes Banner. 1820 Examiner No. 652. 644/1 Lady Charlotte Lindsay, another of the departers. 1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 61 They are all departers, i.e...before they were cast out visibly in the body, they departed in mind. |
4. One who departs or goes away.
| 1673 O. Walker Education 223 The Patron leaveth the rest and accompanieth the departer. 1705 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. II. 231 An Act about Departers out of this Province. 1747 Franklin Ess. Wks. 1840 III. 13 The hurry and disorder of departers, carrying away their effects. |
▪ II. † deˈparter2 Law. Obs.
[subst. use of AF. departer (Britton iii. iv. 25) = OF. departir pres. inf. to depart, departing.]
= departure 6.
| 1628 Coke On Litt. 139 a, A departer in despight of the Court..when the Tenant or Defendant after appearance..makes departure in despight of the Court..It is called a retraxit. 1751 Chambers Cycl., Departure or Departer, in law, a term properly applied to a person, who first pleading one thing in bar of an action, and that being replied to, he waves it, and insists on something different. |