Forms: α. 6 (pl.) vesiri, 7 vesir, 7–9 vezir; 6–8 visir (8 wizir), 6–9 vizir; 9 vizeer. β. 6 vizeare, 7 -ear, viseire, -ere, visciere, vizeere, 7–9 visier (7 visiar), 7– vizier. γ. 7 viser, vizer, visur. [ad. Turk. vezīr, a. Arabic wasīr, wesīr, orig. a porter, hence one who bears the burden of government, a minister or lieutenant of a king, f. wazara to carry, carry on. Cf. F. visir, vizir, Sp. visir, Pg. visir, visir, It. visire. See also ALGUAZIL.]
1. In the Turkish empire, Persia or other Mohammedan country: A high state official or minister, freq. one invested with vice-regal authority; a governor or viceroy of a province; now esp. the chief minister of the sovereign (see 2).
α. 1562. J. Shute, trans. Cambini’s Turk. Wars, II. 13 b. The Turcke called vnto him all his consellours called in the Turckishe tonge Vesiri, & all his Bassas.
1614. Selden, Titles Honor, 377. The Vezirs are Counsellors of State.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., 12. The Governour of the City hath the quality of Sulthan, and hath under him, not a Calenter, but a Visir or Secretary. Ibid. (1662), trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 371. The conversation he had with a Persian Visir.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. vi. 170. Abou Yezid, his ambitious and too powerful Wizir, or Prime Minister, revolted.
1753. Hanway, Trav., III. xxxii. (1762), I. 145. He immediately ordered his vizir to take me up behind him.
1763. Scrafton, Indostan (1770), 47. The march of Monsur Ally Caun, Visir of the empire, into the province of Bahar.
1815. Elphinstone, Acc. Caubul (1842), II. 251. This rule was departed from by Shauh Zemaun, who made a Suddozye vizeer. Ibid. (1841), Hist. Ind., II. 9. His vizir … had been long in one of the highest employments under the calif.
1909. Athenæum, 4 Sept., 262/3. It was … the rivalry of jealous vezirs that invited the interference of Nur-ad-din.
β, γ. 1599, 1601. [see b. below].
1613. Sir A. Sherley, Trav. Persia, 47. The place of the Viseire comprehending in it, the office of Chancellor, and high Treasurer.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. (1903), 21. The Visers or Viceroyes residing in Constantinople being 4. of old, were 7 at this tyme.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 28. Nassuf Bashaw, the Visier and Generall to Sultan Schmat.
1696. trans. Du Mont’s Voy. Levant, xiv. 177. The seven Visiers of the Bench brought up the Rear of this Magnifient Troop.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4363/1. The Janisaries have depos’d the Grand Seignior, and set his Nephew upon the Throne, who … is to act under the Direction of Four Visiers during his Minority. Ibid. (1722), No. 6023/1. The Venetian Bailo has not yet been with the Vizier.
1786. Burke, Art. agst. W. Hastings, Wks. XI. 371. A certain prince called Sujab ul Dowla, Nabob of Oude, and Vizier of the empire.
1819. T. Hope, Anastasius, I. Notes 331. All Pashas, before whom are carried the three horse-tails, have the title of Visier.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 369. In a great council of Viziers and Ulemas assembled at the house of Scheik-ul-Islam.
1888. Encycl. Brit., XXIV. 268/1. The office of vizier, which spread from the Arabs to the Persians, Turks, Mongols, and other Oriental peoples, arose under the first Abbasid caliphs.
transf. 1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, li. His Lordship’s vizier and chief confidential servant … Mr. Wenham.
† b. With the title bashaw added or prefixed. (See quot. 1819 in β above). Obs.
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 6. Our imbassader Delivered a presente to the Vizeare Basha at his house.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 57. When the counsell hath sitten seauen or eight houres, the Bassa visur maketh true relation to the Prince, of all that hath bene handled.
1648. W. L., Newes fr. Turkie, 25. A translate of the Imperiall Commandement, directed to the Vizeere-Bassa of Egypt.
c. transf. One holding a position analogous to that of a Mohammedan vizier; a vicegerent, viceroy, or chief minister.
1709. Swift, Adv. Relig., Wks. 1755, II. I. 113. The arbitrary will of an unlimited monarch, or his vizier.
1820. Shelley, Œd. Tyr., II. ii. 8. Emperors, kings, and priests and lords, Who rule by viziers, sceptres, bank-notes, words.
1869. Rawlinson, Anc. Hist., 211. Perdiccas’ own office [in Macedonia] was that of vizier or prime minister.
2. Grand (also formerly chief, great, head or prime) vizier, the chief minister or administrator of a Mohammedan ruler, esp. of the Sultan of Turkey.
(a) 1597. Wrag, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1599), II. I. 304. At the departure of Sinan Bassa the chiefe Vizir … there was another Bassa appointed in his place. Ibid., 305. This reconciliation with the great Vizir thus made [etc.].
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 44. Aladin … dying, Sahib the head Vezir vsurped the soueraigntie.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 16. The High Dignity of Prime Vizier.
1825. Arab. Nts., II. 240. The King was at that time in discourse with his prime vizier.
(b) 1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 85. Neither the Gran Visiar, or the Emperour Himselfe will question his [i.e., the Mufti’s] sentence. Ibid. (c. 1645), Lett. (1650), I. 70. By the advice of his grand Visier … he intended to erect a new Soldiery in Asia about Damasco.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 63. He hath his chief Minister, who is the Grand Visier; for he hath commonly seven Visiers, whereof the first hath all the Authority and does all.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 311. When the grand vizir takes the field, the mufti generally makes him such a valuable present.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., The Grand Vizir possesses great powers, especially with regard to military affairs.
1848. W. K. Kelly, trans. L. Blanc’s Hist. Ten Y., II. 205. To save Syria, perhaps Constantinople, Mahmoud turns to his grand vizier, Reschid Mehemet.
1881. Trotter, Visit Crt. Marocco, xiii. 191. The Grand Vizier,… together with his colleagues, looked as black as thunder.
1897. Whitaker’s Alm., 561/1. Morocco, Empire of. Sultan…, Grand Vizier … Minister of For. Affairs.
b. transf.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xi. III. 13. They would rather … be subject to an usurper like Oliver,… than to a legitimate King who referred them to a Grand Vizier.
3. attrib. and Comb., as vizier-craft, -slave.
1833. Edin. Rev., LVII. 141. Into whatever untried vanities of being Faust and his Vizier-slave may pass.
1880. Meredith, Tragic Com., vii. He is for kingcraft to match his viziercraft.
