succentor
(səkˈsɛntə(r))
Also 7 -our.
[a. late L. succentor, agent-n. f. succinĕre to sing to, accompany, ‘chime in’, agree, f. suc- = sub- 8 + canĕre to sing. In sense 3, as correlative to præcentor precentor, associated with sub- 6 (cf. subchanter).]
† 1. a. A chanter who takes up the chant after the precentor, or who presides over the left choir. (Also allusively.) Obs.
| 1647 Trapp Comm. Rev. v. 14 The Saints were the Precentors in this blessed Quire, and now they are the Succentors also. They began the Song, and so conclude it. 1697 O. Heywood Heavenly Converse Wks. 1826 IV. 525 We find precentors and succentors in this blessed quire, saints above and saints below. 1817 Fosbrooke Brit. Monachism 182 The Succentor or Subchantor presided over the left Choir; the Chantor began, and the Subchantor answered. |
† b. One who sings the bass in a choir. Obs. rare—0.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr. |
† 2. fig. An abettor. Obs. rare—1.
| 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xix. xii. 141 Paulus.. was the prompter and succentor of these cruell enterludes. |
3. A precentor's deputy.
| 1642 in Chas. I. Wks. (1662) II. 230 The Bill for the utter abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops, Bishops,..Succentors, [etc.]. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 19 Cartwright..had the Succentors place in the Church of Salisbury confer'd on him. 1771 Antiq. Sarisb. 140 Walter de la Wyle was Succentor or Subdean of Sarum. 1865 Churchman 9 Nov. 1283 Mr. Precentor is to have a Vicar Choral to act as succentor or precentor's deputy. 1904 Times 17 Mar. 5/5 The posts of succentor and librarian at St. Paul's are not held by the same person. |
Hence sucˈcentorship, the office of succentor.
| 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 19 In his Proctorship succeeded Joh. Maplet..and in his Succentorship Rob. Joyner. 1829 S. H. Cassan Bps. Bath & Wells 104 The Succentorship and the Provostship..were..suppressed. |