Peer of the realm

Peer of the realm

Peer of the Realm is a term for a member of the (aristocratic) highest social order (not considering the ruling dynasty) in a kingdom, notably:

* a member of the peerage (noble and equivalent titles granted by the British crown; actually there are several peerage systems, such as the peerages of England, of Ireland, of Scotland, of the UK)
* the English rendering a member of a similar order in another realm, especially the French title pair as used in the French kingdom and the crusader state kingdom of Jerusalem
* nobility proper of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth who enjoyed hereditary "paritas". Those who would sit on hereditary basis in Land Parliaments, or be royal electors, enjoy personal immunity, and the right to be judged only by the King's court or the court of peers. Also the exclusive right to be granted state or Land dignities and titles. The Skartabelli who were middle-nobility by law were not peers. Nobles who were not direct barons of the Crown but held land from other lords were not peers "de facto" as they would not enjoy full noble privileges.

ee also

* pair de France


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  • peer of the realm — noun a peer who is entitled to sit in the House of Lords • Regions: ↑United Kingdom, ↑UK, ↑U.K., ↑Britain, ↑United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, ↑Great Britain • Hypernyms: ↑peer …   Useful english dictionary

  • peer of the realm — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms peer of the realm : singular peer of the realm plural peers of the realm someone from a high social class in the UK, who has the right to sit in the house of lords …   English dictionary

  • peer of the realm — peers of the realm N COUNT In Britain, a peer of the realm is a member of the nobility who has the right to sit in the House of Lords …   English dictionary

  • peer of the realm — pl. peers of the realm. any of a class of peers in Great Britain and Ireland entitled by heredity to sit in the House of Lords. [1585 95] * * * …   Universalium

  • peer of the realm — noun a member of the class of peers who has the right to sit in the House of Lords …   English new terms dictionary

  • peer of the United Kingdom — peer of the realm or peer of the United Kingdom, a peer entitled as a matter of hereditary right to sit in the House of Lords …   Useful english dictionary

  • Peer — 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. [1913 Webster] In song he never had his peer. Dryden.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • The Peers — Peer 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. [1913 Webster] In song he never had his peer.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • peer — peer1 [pir] n. [ME peir < OFr per < L par, an equal: see PAR1] 1. a person or thing of the same rank, value, quality, ability, etc.; equal; specif., an equal before the law 2. a noble; esp., a British duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or… …   English World dictionary

  • peer — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 person of the same age/status ADJECTIVE ▪ academic (esp. AmE), professional ▪ She is highly respected by her professional peers. VERB + PEER ▪ outperform …   Collocations dictionary

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