▪ I. compeer, n.
(kəmˈpɪə(r))
Forms: 3 cumper, 4 comper, 5–6 -pyre, -ire, 5–7 compere, 6–7 compeare, compier, compeere, 4–7 compeer.
[ME. comper, a. OF. comper, f. com- + per (peer), since 16th c. written pair:—L. par-em equal, See peer, pair. For the vowel cf. clear = F. clair.
Perh. in sense 2 identified with F. compère, med.L. compater, fellow godfather, gossip, familiar.]
1. One of equal rank or standing; an equal, peer.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 3396 Þe kyng with-outen compere of kyngis all othire. 1590 Three Lords & Ladies Lond. i. in Hazl. Dodsley VI. 467 Three cavalieros..Without compeers in compass of this world. 1612 T. Taylor Titus iii. 1 The Clergy..will be iudged by none but their compeares. 1644 Jessop Angel of Eph. 27 That..Timothy or Titus were meere Presbyters, and so compeeres or Equals to the Presbyters of Ephesus. 1886 Dict. Nat. Biog. VI. 309/1 Brian Boroimhe..has been often praised..as an enlightened patriot, a compeer of King Alfred and of Washington. |
2. A companion, associate, comrade, fellow.
| c 1275 Pains of Hell 64 in O.E. Misc. 212 Bynd..cursid leuers with here cumpers, And cast ham in þe fuyre. 1382 Wyclif Judg. xi. 38 Whanne she was goon with felawis and hir compeers [1388 pleiferis]. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 672 His frend and his Comper. 1494 Fabyan v. lxxxiii, He axed lodgynge..for hym and his Comperys. 1529 Rastell Pastyme (1811) 203 This kynge..sent for Piers Gaueston his compyre and advanced hym to great honour. 1600 Holland Livy viii. vi. 284 They conversed together, as colleagues and compeeres [compares]. 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. xviii. 296 His marshall compere..and brave commilitant. 1735 Somerville Chase iii. 317 The fierce Arab..with his Troop Of bold Compeers. 1862 M. Goodman Exper. Sister of Mercy 219 The recruit..is at once subjected to discipline by his compeers. |
† b. Used contemptuously. Obs.
| 1610 B. Jonson Alch. iv. iv, Your sooty, smoky-bearded compeer. 1725 Pope Odyss. xx. 378 No more, ye lewd Compeers, with lawless pow'r Invade my dome. |
3. One associated with another in the view of the speaker or writer.
| 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 47 Delt out among the compeeres that stand for the election. 1633 Costlie Whore iii. iii. in Bullen O. Pl. IV, Fellow compere, supporter of the State, Let us imbrace in steele, our cause is good. 1791 Cowper Odyss. vi. 195 Wealthier than his rich compeers. 1809–10 Coleridge Friend (ed. 3) III. 320 The harangues of Pitt, Fox, and their elder compeers. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 405 The spirit by which Dryden and several of his compeers were..animated against the Whigs. |
4. transf. and fig.
| 1604 Drayton Owle 697 The Hedge-Sparrow, and her Compeere the Wren. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 412 ¶5 The Nightingale [selects] her musical Compeer. 1869 Herschel Fam. Lect. Sc., The Sun 89 The sun..among these glorious compeers [stars]. 1884 Girl's Own Paper 200/3 As a useful garment the polonaise has no compeer. |
Hence comˈpeership, position of a compeer.
| 1652 Peyton Catastr. Ho. Stuarts (1731) 7 Fit for any Compeership. |
▪ II. † comˈpeer, v. Obs. rare.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To equal, rival, be the compeer of.
| 1605 Shakes. Lear v. iii. 69 In my rights, By me inuested, he compeeres the best. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 129 Elean Ioue's proud Fane which heauen compeerd. 1839 Bailey Festus (1848) 21/1 Sooner let the mountains bend..Than nations stoop their sky-compeering heads. |