phr. (old colloquial).—The best; first-class; A1 (q.v.): see TIP-TOP. The usage became popular and was extended to other vocables; cf. quots. 1602 and 1603. As subs. = a paragon.
c. 1470. BLIND HARRY, Wallace [JAMIESON (1869), 20]. The APERSE of Scotland [Wallace].
1475. HENRYSON (or HENDERSON), Testament of Cresseide [SPEGHT, Chaucer, v. 78]. The floure and A PER SE of Troie and Greece.
c. 1488. Crying of Ane Playe [LAING, Early Popular Poetry of Scotland, ii. 16].
| Quhilk is the lampe, and A PER SE | |
| Of this regioun, in al degre, | |
| Of welefair, and of honestie, | |
| Renowne, and riche aray. |
c. 1500. The Merchant and His Son, in MS. Cantab. Ff. ii. 38, f. 51. Thou schalt be an APERSEY, my sone, in mylys ij. or thre.
1501. DUNBAR, In Honour of the City of London, Poems, Supplement. (1865), 277. London, thowe arte of townes A PER SE.
1567. T. DRANT, Horace, ii. 1.
| If they so praise these Poets, which in alder time haue bene, | |
| If they make them A PER SE AES that none are like to them. |
1568. A. SCOTT, Poems (1821), 34, ‘Quha is perfyte.’
| That bird of bliss in bewty is | |
| In erd þe only A PER SE. |
1602. SHAKESPEARE, Troilus and Cressida, i. 2.
| Alex. They say he is a very MAN PER SE, | |
| And stands alone. |
1603. H. PETOWE, Eliza’s Funeral [BRYDGES, Restituta, iii. 26].
| And singing mourne Eliza’s funerall, | |
| The E PER SE of all that ere hath beene. |
1610. Mirror for Magistrates, 371. Beholde me, Baldwine, A PER SE of my age.
1699. KING, Furmetary, ii. AND PER SE and alone, as poets use.
1797. INCHBALD, Wives, etc., ii. 1. She is willing to part and divide her love, share and share alike; but B will have all or none; so poor A must remain A BY HERSELF A.
