Peer v. t. To be, or to assume to be,
equal. [R.]
Peer v. t. To make equal in
rank. [R.]
Heylin.
Peer , n. [OE. per, OF. per, F. pair, fr. L. par equal. Cf. Apparel, Pair, Par, n., Umpire.]
1. One of the same rank, quality, endowments, character, etc.; an equal; a match; a mate.
In song he never
had his peer.
Dryden.
Shall they consort only with their
peers?
I. Taylor.
2. A comrade; a companion; a fellow; an associate.
He all his
peers in beauty did surpass.
Spenser. 3. A nobleman; a member of one
of the five
degrees of the British nobility, namely, duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron; as, a peer
of the realm.
A noble peer of mickle trust and power.
Milton. House of Peers, The Peers, the British House of Lords. See Parliament. -- Spiritual peers, the
bishops and archibishops, or lords
spiritual, who sit in the House of Lords.
Peer (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peered (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Peering.]
[OF. parir, pareir
equiv. to F. paraître to appear, L. parere. Cf. Appear.] 1. To come in sight; to appear. [Poetic]
So honor
peereth in the meanest habit.
Shak. See how his gorget peers above his gown!
B. Jonson. 2. [Perh. a different word; cf. OE. piren, LG. piren. Cf. Pry to peep.] To look narrowly or curiously or intently; to peep; as, the peering day.
Milton.
Peering in
maps for ports, and piers, and roads.
Shak.
As if through a dungeon grate he peered.
Coleridge.
Hear it pronounced