a term rather French than English, though used on many occasions in our language. It has the same import with great, being formed of the Latin grandis. In this sense we say, the grand-master of an order, the grand-master of Malta, of the freemasons, &c. So also the grand-signior, the grand-visir, &c. grand-father, grand-mother, &c.

Among the French there were formerly several officers thus denominated, which we frequently retain in English; as grand almoner, grand ecyer, grand chamberlain, grand voyer, &c.

GRAND-Assise. See ASSISE.