paramount, noun
- Origin:
- EnglishShow more Special sense of general English paramount (one who is) superior in authority.
a. A designation given (especially in the past by colonial authorities) to a senior African leader who is accepted as ‘the first among equals’ in the ruling structures of a traditional people or group of peoples; umkumkani. Also transferred sense, see quotation 1987. See also inkosi sense 1 a.
1844 Maitland Treaty in F. Brownlee Transkeian Native Territories: Hist. Rec. (1923) 92Treaty of Amity entered into..on behalf of Her Britannic Majesty, of the one part, and Faku, Paramount Chief of the Amapondo Nation.
1991 S. Macleod in Time 5 Aug. 13Proud of his descent from the great Zulu warrior and paramount chief Shaka, who never surrendered, Buthelezi is not likely to yield to anyone.
b. (Always in full, and with initial capitals.) A title, often used before a name; P.C. noun1.
1926 M. Nathan S. Afr. from Within 55Sobhuza himself, together with his principal chiefs and Indunas, went to England to endeavour to obtain the restoration of his title as King (he had latterly been styled Paramount Chief by the Administration).
1974 Afr. Encycl. 505The policy of ‘separate development’..which led to the establishment of the Transkei has been opposed by the leader of the ‘True’ Thembu, Paramount Chief Sabata Dalinyebo.
A designation given (especially in the past by colonial authorities) to a senior African leader who is accepted as ‘the first among equals’ in the ruling structures of a traditional people or group of peoples; umkumkani. Also transferred sense, see quotation 1987.
(Always in full, and with initial capitals.) P.C. noun1.
Visualise Quotations
Quotation summarySenses
Copyright © 2023 Dictionary Unit for South African English.