squire (1), squiere

[A contract. of esquire 1. An attendant on a knight; a knight's shield or armor-bearer. "The squire , who saw expiring on the ground His prostrate master, rein'd the steeds around." Pope: Homer's Iliad , xx. 565. 2. An attendant on a person of noble or royal rank; hence, colloquially, an attendant on a lady; a beau, a gallant; a male companion, a close attendant or follower. "Has your young sanctity done railing, Madam, Against your innocent squire ?" Beaum, & Flet.: Wife for a Month , i. 1. 3. The title of a gentleman next in rank to a knight. "I think he may be called a squire , for he beareth euer after those armes."- Smith : Commonwealth, bk. i., ch. xx. 4. A title popularly given to a country gentleman. 5. A title given to magistrates and lawyers in the United States. In New England it is given especially to justices of the peace and judges; in Penn sylvan i a to justices of the peace only. Squire of Dames : A personage introduced by Spenser in the Faery Queen (III. vii. 51). Often used to expre a person devoted to the fair sex. *squïre (2), s. [O. F. esquierie .] A rule, a footrule, a square (q. v.). squïre, v. t. [SQUIRE (1), 8.] 1. To attend as a squire. 2. To attend as a beau or gallant; to escort. "She offered, if I would squire her there, to send home the footman."- Goldsmith : Bee , No. 2. *squïre'-age (age as ig), s. [Eng. squire ; -age .] Landed gentry; squires. *squïre-arch, s. [SQUIREARCHY.] A member of the squirearchy. "I had long been disgusted with the interference of those selfish squirearchs." -Lytton : Caxtons , bk. ii., ch. xi. *squire-arch'-al, *squire-arch-ic-al, a . [Eng. squirearch(y); -al, -ical .] Of or pertaining to a squirearchy; fit for a squire. "Living in houses often almost squirearchal."-London Daily News . 3820