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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Supreme, adj. (n.). Also: suppreme, supream(e. [e.m.E. supreme (1523), supreame (Shakespeare), supream (1653), F. suprême (early 16th c. in Larousse), L. suprēmus, superl. of superus, f. super.]

A. adj. 1. Of a person, institution, etc.: Highest in power, rank or authority; holding the highest place. Also with preceding superlative.Freq. in legal contexts, of judges or courts.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 7/16.
All kingis and princis suld knaw … that thai are nocht supreme in regiment and gouernyng, bot has a juge souuerane aboue thame a1568 Wedderburn in Bann. MS 279b/58.
To tell of Nerone and Commodius Quhilk wer suppreme heidis of all the impyre a1578 Pitsc. I 18/17.
Hes he nocht lauborrit … to set furth and drywe all matteris … lyk as he haid beine suppreme magistratt a1578 Pitsc. II 313/30.
The ministeris desyred to be supreame heid of the kirk and that name sould have jurrisdictioun ovir thame 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 96/7.
Contemnaris of supreme magistratis, louaris of thame selfis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 109b.
And to the Lords of counsell and session as … supreme judges c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 15a.
Quhat great greife sorrow and vtter ruine they had receaved by ther malitious and ungodlie refuisall of his Majestie to be ther supreame head a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 10.
The Justice of old wes the supream judge als weill of civill actions as of cryms 1662 Inverurie 336.
In the prayer after sermon, the king was prayed for, as supream (under God) above all persons 1681 Laing MSS 425.
He did appell to the Kings Majestie as supream head of the Church(2) a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 1.
The justice, quhilk is called the kings court, from which ther wes no appealling, as being supreame 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 86.
And therefore much more doth this liberty belong to the supreame judicatory 1673 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 134.
The Lords Commissioners of Justiciary … fand that this cause is not of that nature as that needs to be discust before this Supream Court(3) c1600 Sc. Hist. Rev. XIX 270.
The judicatorie of commissariat … of Edinburgh is most supreame

b. Of power, authority, etc., itself. 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 217.
He aucht nocht tobe chosin to that office in respect that he had bene prouest quhilk wes the supreme office of burgh 1561–2 Misc. Maitl. C. III 297.
Gyf thai neglect … it sal be complanit of thar partialite and slewth to the suprem authorite 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 28.
The cardinall Betoun quha be ane fals instrument had taken the suppreme authoritie to himself 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 189.
Leaving the censur of all such infernall peeces and ther authors to suprem authoritie 1669 Dickinson Source-bk. III 160.
His Majestie hath the supream authority and supremacie over all persons 1699 Fugitive Poetry II xliii 13/22.
To render my Supream Authoritie void

c. specif. Of God or His attributes. 1513 Doug. x Prol. 21.
Thy maist supreme indiuisibill substans, In ane natur thre personys 1549 Compl. 27/19.
The supreme plasmator of hauyn ande eird

d. Of a class of students: Most advanced (in their university or school). c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 12.
Richard Marchinston (one of the supreme classe) was elected janitor c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 14.
In May Robert Gilmor bursar student in the supreme classe was admitted Janitor of the Colledge 1649 Elgin Rec. II 433.
The master himself sall cause the supream class rehearse ther sacred leson and expon the sam and thereafter sall direct of the ablest of the supream class to exact the lyk account of the inferiours 1649 Elgin Rec. II 434.
The inferiour classes … sall [etc.] … The supream classe sall giw account both of theame and werse to the master himself lykvyse befor tuell

2. In literal sense: Highest, loftiest. 1549 Compl. 3/12.
The maist illustir potent prince of the maist fertil & pacebil realme, under the machine of the supreme olimp

3. Highest in quality or degree. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 32.
Howbeit the inhumanitie wer greit ȝit it wer not in supreme degre of crueltie

B. noun. a. A person holding the highest authority, a ruler. b. A feudal superior.a. 1662 Glasgow Chart. II 47.
Any church power, jurisdiction or government … other than that which aknowledgeth a dependance upon and subordination to the soveraigne power of the king as supreamb. a1578 Pitsc. I 98/3.
He wald nocht enter his sone into his landis the said earle being supreme thairof