[ad. Gr. ἐγκωμιαστ-ής, f. ἐγκωμιάζειν to praise, laud, f. ἐγκώμιον ENCOMIUM.] One who composes or pronounces an encomium; a praiser, eulogizer, flatterer.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., xlix. Of faire Eclecta … the … smooth Encomiast.
a. 1626. Bacon, Q. Eliz., Mor. & Hist. Wks. (Bohn), 492. The only proper encomiast of this lady is time.
1772. Lett., in T. J. Pettigrew, Mem. J. C. Lettsom (1817), III. 394. Having undertaken the office of the biographer, not that of the encomiast.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 132. We hear the encomiasts of Homer affirming that he is the educator of Hellas.
