surplice (serplis)

[Early mod. E. also sur plis; men and choristers in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. It is worn at almost all offices except when replaced by the alb. In England it is also worn on certain days known as sur plice-days by the fellows and students at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The surplice was originally a variety of the alb, differing from it by the greater fullne of the sleeves. Early representations of the alb show, however, that it was often nearly as full in shape as the surplice. The name surplice ( superpelliceum ) first occurs in the eleventh century, and was derived from the practice of wearing this vestment over a peli e, or dre of fur-a circumstance which also explains its great breadth and fullne . In its more ancient form the surplice reached the feet, and it retained till recently nearly its full length. At present, in the Anglican Church, it reaches to the knee or lower, while in the Roman Catholic Church it is usually much shorter than this and is ornamented with lace or is made of lacelike lawn or other material. The short or Italian surplice, especially as worn by choristers, is called a cotta. See rochet1. Anglican Surplice. A man [the Canon] that clothed was in clothes blake, And under net he he wered a surplys. Chaucer, Prol. to Canon's Yeoman's Tale, 1. 5. Princes and Queens will not disdain to ki a Capuchin's Sleeve, or the Surplice of a Priest. Howell , Letters, iv. 36. surpliced (ser'plist), a. [ surplice , n., + -ed2 .] Wearing a surplice or surplices: as, a surpliced choir. Commands and interdicts, uttered by a surpliced priest to minds prepared by chant and organ-peal. H. Spencer , Study of Sociol., p. 365. 6086 She had caused that late darkne , to free Lorel from surprisal , and his prey from being rescued from him. B. Jonson , Sad Shepherd, Arg. Sins which men are tempted to by sudden pa ions or surprisal . Baxter , Self-Denial, xx. June is the pearl of our New England year. Still a surprisal , though expected long. Lowell , Under the Willows.