Obs. [f. CHIEF + -TY.] Headship, supremacy, sovereignty; chief place, or degree.
1552. Huloet, Cheiftye, or cheife gouernaunce, or supremacy, primatus. Cheifty, or pryncipall rule of holy matters, hierarchia.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. 104. To giue the soueraigntie, or chieftie of their Landes from them, to a straunger.
1616. Hieron, Wks., II. 36. Surely, that, which hath the chieftie in a mans desire, will preuaile most in his endeuour.
a. 1626. W. Sclater, Expos. Rom., IV. (1650), 176. The chiefety of our hope and confidence must be placed in God.
1644. Hunton, Vind. Treat. Monarchy, v. 39. These Titles … import only Utmost chiefty.
