decemvir

(dē sem′vir)

a member of a council of ten magistrates in ancient Rome: in 451-450 this body drew up the first Roman code of laws
a member of any authoritative group of ten men

Origin: L, sing. of decemviri < decem, ten + vir, a man: for IE base: see werewolf

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See decemvir in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. de·cem·virs or de·cem·vi·ri (-və-rīˌ)

One of a body of ten Roman magistrates, especially a member of one of two such bodies appointed in 451 and 450 B.C. to draw up a code of laws.
One of an authoritative body of ten.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Latin

Origin: , sing. of decemvirī, commission of ten men

Origin: : decem, ten; see dekm̥ in Indo-European roots

Origin: + virī

Origin: , pl. of vir, man; see wī-ro- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: