† preˈclare, a. Chiefly Sc. Obs.
Also 6 præ-, -clair.
[ad. L. præclārus very bright, f. præ, pre- A. 6 + clārus clear.]
1. lit. Very clear. rare—1.
| 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. Prol. 63 A voice I hard preclair as Phebus schone. |
2. Distinguished, illustrious.
| 1511 Dunbar Poems lxxvii. 65 O potent princes, pleasant and preclair. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) I. 59 Richt ȝoung he wes, bayth plesand and preclair. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. i. 92 Famous & preclare exemples of men of renoume. Ibid. 117 Quhais myndes deip and præclair studies hes decored. 1623 Cockeram 11, Excellent.., preclare. 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles II. iv. 183 Do not there⁓fore the preclare and illustrious Institutes or Laws of Living make way to Virtue? 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 15 Lo! on Olympus' taps preclair The goddess o' men-blessing lear. |