n. & v.
n. 1 a person chosen to enforce the rules and settle disputes in various sports. 2 a person chosen to arbitrate between disputants, or to see fair play.
v. 1 intr. (usu. foll. by for, in, etc.) act as umpire. 2 tr. act as umpire in (a game etc.). umpirage n. umpireship n.
[ ME, later form of noumpere f. OF nonper not equal (as NON-, PEER(2)): for loss of n- cf. ADDER ]