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A form of government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of the wealthy classes; government by the rich; also, a controlling or influential class of rich men.

One of the sacred college, in ancient Rome, which had the supreme jurisdiction over all matters of religion, at the head of which was the Pontifex Maximus. Dr. W. Smith.

offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving. And to his goddess pitously he preyde. Chaucer. When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in s…

he true God; the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being; as, public prayer; secret prayer. As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. Shak.

Sovereignty; supreme power; hence, superiority; predominance; high, or the highest, station. Sir P. Sidney. Your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory. Jer. xiii. 18. The prerogative and principality above everything else. Jer. Taylor.

Principality; supreme rule. [Obs.] Barrow.

llege, religious order, etc. Lord Protector (Eng. Hist.), the title of Oliver Cromwell as supreme governor of the British Commonwealth (1653-1658).

eal to. Fiercely [they] opposed My journey strange, with clamorous uproar Protesting fate supreme. Milton. To protest a bill or note (Law), to make a solemn written declaration, in due form, on behalf of the holder, against all parties liable for any loss or damage to be sustained by the nonacceptance or the nonpayment…

A ruler or governor.[R.] God is the supreme rector of the world. Sir M. Hale.

Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion. He who like a father held his reign. Pope. Saturn's sons received the threefold reign Of heaven, of ocean,, and deep hell beneath. Prior.

Relation; reference; regard. They believed but one Supreme Deity, which, with respect to the various benefits men received from him, had several titles. Tillotson.

rue and just; according with truth and duty; just; true. That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is absolutely right, and is called right simply without relation to a special end. Whately.

To have power or command; to exercise supreme authority; -- often followed by over. By me princes rule, and nobles. Prov. viii. 16. We subdue and rule over all other creatures. Ray.

he affections of men are purified, or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to, a supreme love to God; also, the state of being thus purified or sanctified. God hath from the baginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. 2 Thess. ii. 13.

Supreme attention to the things of the present life; worldliness. A secularity of character which makes Christianity and its principal doctrines distasteful or unintelligible. I. Taylor.

Caring supremely or unduly for one's self; regarding one's own comfort, advantage, etc., in disregard, or at the expense, of those of others. They judge of things according to their own private appetites and selfish passions. Cudworth. In that throng of selfish hearts untrue. Keble.

lity or state of being selfish; exclusive regard to one's own interest or happiness; that supreme self-love or self- preference which leads a person to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interest, power, or happiness, without regarding those of others. Selfishness,- a vice utterly at variance with the ha…

A body of elders appointed or elected from among the nobles of the nation, and having supreme legislative authority. The senate was thus the medium through which all affairs of the whole government had to pass. Dr. W. Smith.

There are . . . in savage theology shadowings, quaint or majestic, of the conception of a Supreme Deity. Tylor.

The title of the supreme ruler in certain Eastern countries, especially Persia. [Written also schah.] Shah Nameh. Etym: [Per., Book of Kings.] A celebrated historical poem written by Firdousi, being the most ancient in the modern Persian language. Brande & C.