compearance Sc. Law.
(kəmˈpɪərəns)
Also 5–7 compeirance, 6–7 comperance.
[a. F. comparance, -ence, f. comparoir to compear: subseq. assimilated to the latter; cf. appearance.]
1. The action of compearing, or formally presenting oneself in court as a party to a cause.
| 1427 Sc. Acts Jas. I (1597) §101 Of them of ilk Schire, that awe compeirance in Parliament or Councel. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 16 Williame, Bruther to King Malcolme..and of his Comperance befoir King Henrie of Ingland tueiching Northumberland. 1663 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1829) 30 For his not compearance, both he and the rest who did not compear were put to the horn. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xiv, ‘The justice took the word o' the tane for the compearance o' the tither.’ 1884 Brit. & For. Evang. Rev. Oct. 679 Compearance before the delegates from the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr. |
† 2. Appearance (of many together). rare.
| 1667 H. More Div. Dial. v. xxxviii. (1713) 517 The whole Skie was filled with Myriads of Myriads of Shapes in this great Compearance. |