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

Soveranté, -tie, n. Also: soverantye, -anety, -aintie, -ayntee, -aigntie, -angté, -enteye, soveranité, -tie, -tee, -etie, soverangetie, -aignity, -aing(e)tie, -ainitie, -enitie, souueranité, souveranitie, soweraintie. Pl. also soveraignetyeis. [ME and e.m.E. soueraynte (Rolle), sovereynte (Chaucer), -einete (Gower), -ente (15th c.), -aignty, -ainty, -aingtee (16th c.), etc., OF suvrainitet, sovraineté, souveraineté (c1120, c1283 and 1288 in Larousse), f. souverain Soverane n. and adj.]

1. Superiority in respect of power, domination or rank; supreme power or authority. Also fig. and in fig. context.Also, to hold (lands) in soverante, and to put (lands) in the soverante of (another).(1) 1446 Reg. Cupar A. I 125.
Wilȝam throwch Godis souerante abbot of the abbey of Cowpar 1456 Hay I 125/34.
And all this that we say of the king we say of othir princis … hafand nane atour thame in soverayntee 1490 Irland Mir. III 108/16.
Thre maneris of police … the first is regnum quhar a king gud and wertuis haldis the souueranite reule and gouernance 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 472.
Quhen kirkmen ȝairnis no dignitie, Nor wyffis no soueranitie 1533 Boece 96.
The sempiternall goddis … quhilkis to diuers naciouns … grantit soueranite and impire, as to Asseryis, Pers [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1076.
Off Eue thay [sc. women] tak that qualite To desyre soueranite a1568 Scott vi 22.
As prowd princely luve expres Is to haif souerenitie So [etc.] 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Affidatio.
For like as of the law, there is na soueraintie, nor impyre amangis them that are pares 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 157.
This error … layes Gods decreit by whill man falles in his lappe, and so makes God resigne His soweraintie 1655 Brodie Diary 163.
That the Lord would kyth His power, truth, souerantie, compassion, on a poor afflicted creature a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 191.
Here is held forth the soveraignity … of Christs dominion: … there is no marring of any of His orders 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 28.
The soveraignity of Christian princes cannot give them a contrary privilege(2) 1669–70 Lauder Jrnl. 228.
The French to … hold [the Spanish Netherlands] … with their dependances in soverainetie and the Spaniard to yeald them to him for ever(3) 1622-6 Bisset II 188/29.
God, quha … put all these [sc. His] dominionis in the soveranitie of thair [onlie sacreit] persones (without straik of sworde)(4) fig. 1490 Irland Mir. I 110/3.
Ȝe suld nocht be wraithe thocht in all nature of hevin, of erde, of hell, I [sc. Dame Mercy] haue excellence and souueranite c1590 Fowler I 22/5.
A sensuall appetite … haveing soveraintie in his youthe … when the senses hes most force and vigeur

b. specif. The position, power or authority of a sovereign; royal authority. Also pl. 1456 Hay I 252/2.
Sen … the womman is subject to the man, … sa may scho nocht be juge in thing that touchis the soveranitee [sc. the prerogative of kings] 1460 Hay Alex. 2023.
The princis saw the fredome of the king That he delt all and held him-self nathing Bot onlie manrent and soueranitie 1460 Hay Alex. 2476.
Than sat the king doun in his maiestie And tuk possessioun of soueranetie 1533 Boece 78.
The ciete of Camelodune … quhare … he had broukit soueranite in Scotland c1590 Fowler II 73/12.
So that be this ald rooted commandement and contin[u]atioun of his soverangetie all causes … and rebellions ar extinguished c1590 Fowler II 107/10.
Quha wald pretend … to soverantye c1590 Fowler II 72/12.
Soveraingetie a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 37.
Provyding that the same be not prejudiciall to the king nor his soveranitie 1609 Laing MSS 113.
Albeit the crowne and souveranitie wer left to the king 1626 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 71.
The most common marke of soueranety is the right of forging and stamping of coynes 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 407.
Thus it wes for a king … to retein his soveraigntie in his owne handspl. c1590 Fowler II 130/7.
Some empreours … cam … suddenlye to ruyne, speciallye these who as new men cam to sic soverangteis

c. transf. A monarch or monarchs. 1632 Lithgow Trav. Dedic.
A homely and familiar stile; no wayes fit for soueraignity to peruse

d. His soueranitie, ? = His Majesty.This may be merely a quasi-personified example of b above. 1596 Dalr. I 22/18.
Edinburgh … quhair his soueranitie vses to make residens

2. A territory ruled by a sovereign; a sovereign state. c1590 Fowler II 95/16.
The principall … gronds which any soverenteye must have ar good lawes and strong forces c1590 Fowler II 106/14.
Na princedome nor soveranetie not propped vp … by ther auen forces can be stable c1590 Fowler II 72/7.
Soveraignetyeis