suppost Obs. exc. Hist.
(səˈpəʊst)
Also 6 Sc. suppoist, 6–7 supposte.
[a. OF. suppost (mod.F. suppôt), ad. L. suppositus, pa. pple. of suppōnĕre to suppone.]
A subordinate; a supporter, follower, adherent. (In first quot. app. a subsidiary set of organs.)
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xxvii. 104 The Impression cogytyue of the entendement, wherof she [sc. the eyeball] maketh a present to the suppost indicatyf. 1547 Bk. Marchauntes a viij, God knoweth by what supposts by what workmen by what croseidiers, such a worke [sc. a crusade] was handled. 1559 in Knox Hist. Ref. ii. Wks. 1846 I. 417 The craft of Sathan and his suppoistis. 1593 in Spalding Club Misc. I. 7 All the commound Ennemies of our native cuntrie, Sick as of spain and all thair suppoistis, ieswittis, prestis, and all utheris. 1600 Holland Livy xxiv. xxxii. 531 The instruments and supposts of the Tyrant. 1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 25 Controuersies arising betweene..the brethren, members, and suppostes of the said Companie. 1646 R. Baillie Anabaptism Pref. (1647) A 2, Have the Supposts of Rome (think we) lost all their wonted stomach towards Protestant blood? 1694 Motteux Rabelais iv. xlviii. 188 Homenas..attended by his Aposts (as they said) and his Supposts or Officers. |
b. Sc. A member (of a university).
For earlier examples see supposit.
| 1561 First Bk. Discipl. Ch. Scot. in Knox's Wks. (1848) II. 217 The hoill Principallis, Regentis, and Suppostis that ar graduat. Ibid. 219 The Beddellis stipend shalbe of everie entrant and suppost of the Vniversitie, ii. schillingis. 1597 in Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. vi. (1655) 447 Any Suppost having received the degree of a Master of Arts, might be chosen Rector. [1819 M{supc}Crie Life Melville I. v. 212 The University of St Andrews was formed on the model of those of Paris and Bologna. All its members or supposts, as they were called,..were divided into nations.] |