prefix, representing OF. and mod.F. sous (:—L. subtus) ‘under,’ ‘sub-,’ in a few words directly adopted from French, as the ME. † sous-prior [OF. souspriour, mod.F. -prieur), subprior; † sous-collarer [OF. souscelleriere fem.], under-cellarer; and the later or modern sous-basha, -lieutenant, -ministre, -officier, -prefect [F. sous-préfet].
(a) 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10144. Þe sousprior of hor hous þe monekes chose echon.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 22237. I am Sowcelerere Off this place, and Pytauncere.
(b) 1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. l. 279. The Officer whom in Turky they call the *Sous-basha.
1841. Lever, C. O’Malley, I. 267. I was, two days ago, chasseur à cheval, a *sous-lieutenant in the regiment of my father.
1855. Chamb. Jrnl., 24 Feb., 113/1. This Lord Milton was the acting *sous-ministre for Scotland in the administration of Walpole.
1826. H. D. Beste, Four Yrs. France, 318. He engaged a *sous-officier to come daily to the house to teach him the manual exercise.
1889. A. C. Gunter, That Frenchman! xvii. 215. The imperial guardsman and *sous-prefect of the secret police.
