office-bearern.

1593 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1882) 1st Ser. V. 63 That the provest and commoun clerk [etc.]..dimit thair offices in the townis handis that new office beiraris may be electit.

1646 J. Dury Israels Call 12 Civill and Ecclesiasticall office-bearers.

1688 J. Renwick Choice Coll. (1776) 539 The exousiastick power of trying, sending and authorising office-bearers in the church is made void.

a1713 A. Pitcairne Assembly (1722) i. iii. 22 It requires me to be an Office-bearer in the House of God therefore I desire ye pray for me six Months without ceasing, that I may be fit for this great Work.

1766 Ld. Kames Remarkable Decisions Court of Session 1730–52 39 The proper effects of the office-bearer will not be affectable by such a diligence.

1818 Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. Nov. 414 The bride and bridegroom, attended by their office-bearers,..walk to the kirk.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 694 One [Act]..required every officebearer in every University of Scotland to sign the Confession of Faith.

1865 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. Pref. p. xv As a plain citizen of the republic of letters, and not as an office-bearer in a hierarchy.

1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 858/1 The term [sc. Amir] gradually came to be applied to any high office-bearer, or to any lord or chief.

1971 J. Pledger in Std. Encycl. S. Afr. III. 342 Increasing friction with the Bushmen led to the decision in 1774 to reorganise the defence..by instituting the office of ‘veldcommandant’. These office-bearers were..placed in charge of thirteen field-corporals.

1990 Cricket Life Internat. June 3/3 In Karachi..there are over 230 registered clubs but most of these exist only on paper and are there for voting purposes to keep the office-bearers in power.