Definition of "sovereign"

The ſoueraigne weede betwixt two marbles plaine She pownded ſmall, and did in peeces bruze, And then atweene her lilly handes twaine, Into his wound the iuyce thereof did ſcruze […]

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie

Homer of Moly and Nepenthe singes: Moly, the gods most soveraigne hearbe divine. Nepenth Hellen's drink, which gladnes brings,— Hart's greife repells, and doth ye witts refine.

1876, John Davies, “[Tobacco.]”, in Alexander B[alloch] Grosart, editor, The Complete Poems of Sir John Davies. Edited, with Memorial-Introduction and Notes, by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes (Early English Poets), volume II, London: Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly, page 226

a sovereign remedy

1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], (please specify the page number)

Such a sovereign influence has this passion upon the regulation of the lives and actions of men.

1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727

In Spain people still bathe in the sea or roll naked in the dew of the meadows on St. John’s Eve, believing that this is a sovereign preservative against diseases of the skin.

1900, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 3, page 297

You're the keeper of the castle So be a father to your children The provider of all their daily needs Like a sovereign Lord protector Be their destiny's director And they'll do well to follow where you lead.

1972, Brian Potter, Dennis Lambert (lyrics and music), “Keeper of the Castle”, performed by The Four Tops

You pity not the state, nor the remembrance of his most sovereign name.

c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i]

We acknowledge him [God] our sovereign good.

1594–1597, Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, (please specify the page)

The petty ſtreames that paie a dailie det To their ſalt ſoveraigne with their freſh fals haſt, Adde to his flowe, but alter not his taſt.

1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto)‎, London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […]

Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime, Said then the lost Archangel, this the seat That we must change for Heaven?, this mournful gloom For that celestial light? Be it so, since hee Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid What shall be right : fardest from him is best Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supream Above his equals. […]

1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, lines 242-249

No question is to be made but that the bed of the Missisippi[sic] belongs to the sovereign, that is, to the nation.

1785, Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia

No, someone who wears loads of sovereigns as well loads of gold and has uh a curly perm and peroxide blonde hair, orange, orange sunbed skin and a fringe like this blow-dried to death, that’s a ‘scally’.

2004, December 11, "Birkenhead, Merseyside" BBC Voices recording (0:06:52)

No visible tattoos, sovereigns, mismatched jewellery, scrunchies, large clips or hoop earrings.

2011 July 1, Caroline Davies, “Harrods 'ladies' code' drives out sales assistant”, in The Guardian‎