Obs. [f. prec. + -ER1.]
1. One who speaks for another; an advocate. (The later examples are Sc.)
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 83. Þes Mon bi-com uorspeker.
13[?]. in Rel. Ant., II. 229.
| Come, shuppere, Holy Gost … | |
| Thou that art cleped vorspekere. |
1437. Sc. Acts Jas. I. (1814), II. 16. Consalers & forspekars nedful til his caus.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. (1822), 183. The hous of Fabis, movit be thir displeseris, past to the senate, and made Ceso Fabius, consul, to be forespekare for thaim.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 12. The defender, nor his forespeaker sould nocht be challenged be anie petition of the persewer.
1768. A. Ross, Helenore, 103.
| How she is catcht for you frae wigg to wa, | |
| An’ nae forspeakers has her claim to ca.’ |
2. One who speaks first; the leader of a meeting.
1552. Huloet, Forespeaker, or whych speaketh firste, antiloquus.
1745. Wesley, Wks. (1830), I. 491. A congregation as I had not lately seen; so stupidly rude and noisy, encouraged thereto by their fore-speaker, a drunken alehouse-keeper.
3. Sc. The foreman of a jury.
a. 1600. Aberd. Reg. (Jam.).
