seniory

Noun

seniory (countable and uncountable, plural seniories)

1. (obsolete) Position as lord, lordship; primacy.
   • Beholde where is nowe the glorye of kynge assurey: whiche behelde vnder his seignorie and dominacion: the nombre of .xxvi. prouincisc. 1506, Margaret Beaufort (translator), The mirroure of golde for the synfull soule by Denis the Carthusian, London: Richard Pynson, “Of the vayne Ioye might dignite honours and riches of the...
   • If ancient sorrow be most reverend,
     Give mine the benefit of seniory,
     And let my woes frown on the upper hand.c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
2. (obsolete) The territory of a lord, dominion.
   • […] Charles kynge of Fraunce surnamed the great, toke Desiderius laste kinge of Lombardes prisoner and annexed his seniory to the dominion of Fraunce.1565, Arthur Golding, “To the Reader”, in The Eight Bookes of Caius Iulius Cæsar, London: William Seres
   • The seigniorie also and principality of this part (which the Persians call a Satrapy, that is, a Dutchy or Countey) doth in great measure exceede all other prouinces that are vnder the protection of the great King.1584, Barnabe Rich, transl., The Famous Hystory of Herodotus, London: Thomas Marshe, Book 1, p. 61
3. (obsolete) Collectively, the lords of a region.
   • […] if any man bring a letter vnto him, hee may not open it, but in the presence of the Seigniorie, and they are to see it first, which being read, perhaps they will deliuer it to him, perhaps not.1599, Laurence Aldersey, “The first voyage or iourney, made by Master Laurence Aldersey, Marchant of London, to the Cities of Ierusalem, and Tripolis, &c. In the yeere 1581”, in Richard Hakluyt...
   • The Seniory of that Prouince (for they had no particular Lord) sent Messengers that they expected mee in peace, and would giue mee what I would […]1625, “The Relation of NUNNO di GUSMAN written to CHAREES the fift Emperour; translated out of RAMUSIOS third Tome, and abridged”, in Samuel Purchas, transl., Purchas His Pilgrimes, volume 4, London...