Obs. exc. Hist. Also 6 Sc. suppoist, 6–7 supposte. [a. OF. suppost (mod.F. suppôt), ad. L. suppositus, pa. pple. of suppōnĕre to SUPPONE.] A subordinate; a supporter, follower, adherent. (In first quot. app. a subsidiary set of organs.)
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxvii. 104. The Impression cogytyue of the entendement, whero she [sc. the eyeball] maketh a present to the suppost indicatyf.
1547. Bk. Marchauntes, a viij. God knoweth by what supposts by what workmen by what croseidiers, such a worke [sc. a crusade] was handled.
1559. in Knox, Hist. Ref., II. Wks. 1846, I. 417. The craft of Sathan and his suppoistis.
1593. in Spalding Club Misc., I. 7. All the commound Ennemies of our native cuntrie, Sick as of spain and all thair suppoistis, ieswittis, prestis, and all utheris.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXIV. xxxii. 531. The instruments and supposts of the Tyrant.
1601. J. Wheeler, Treat. Comm., 25. Controuersies arising betweene … the brethren, members, and suppostes of the said Companie.
1646. R. Baillie, Anabaptism, Pref. (1647), A 2. Have the Supposts of Rome (think we) lost all their wonted stomach towards Protestant blood?
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. xlviii. 188. Homenas … attended by his Aposts (as they said) and his Supposts or Officers.
b. Sc. A member (of a university).
For earlier examples see SUPPOSIT.
1561. First Bk. Discipl. Ch. Scot., in Knox’s Wks. (1848), II. 217. The hoill Principallis, Regentis, and Suppostis that ar graduat. Ibid., 219. The Beddellis stipend shalbe of everie entrant and suppost of the Vniversitie, ii. schillingis.
1597. in Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1655), 447. Any Suppost having received the degree of a Master of Arts, might be chosen Rector.
[1819. M‘Crie, Life Melville, I. v. 212. The University of St Andrews was formed on the model of those of Paris and Bologna. All its members or supposts, as they were called, including the students who had attained the degree of bachelor as well as the masters, were divided into nations, according to the places from which they came]
