Peer (?), v. i. [imp. & p.p Peered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peering.] [OF. parir, pareir equiv. to F. paraitre 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Peer v. t.
To make equal in rank.
[R.]
Heylin.
© Webster 1913.
Peer v. t.
To be, or to assume to be, equal.
[R.]
© Webster 1913.