Decemvir definition

dĭ-sĕmvər
decemviri decemvirs
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One of a body of ten Roman magistrates, especially a member of one of two such bodies appointed in 451 and 450 bc to draw up a code of laws.
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One of an authoritative body of ten.
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A member of a council of ten magistrates in ancient Rome: in 451-450 b.c. this body drew up the first Roman code of laws.
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A member of any authoritative group of ten men.
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One of a body of ten magistrates in ancient Rome.
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A member of any body of ten men in authority.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
decemvir
Plural:
decemviri, decemvirs

Origin of decemvir

  • Middle English from Latin sing. of decemvirī commission of ten men decem ten dekm̥ in Indo-European roots virī pl. of vir man wī-ro- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Latin decem, "ten", and vir, "man".

    From Wiktionary

Decemvir Sentence Examples

  • Her beauty attracted the notice of the decemvir Appius Claudius, who instructed Marcus Claudius, one of his clients, to claim her as his slave.

  • He was soon, however, recalled to Rome by Trajan, and appointed to the offices of decemvir stlitibus judicandis, praefectus feriarum Latinarum, and sevir turmae equitum Romanorum.

  • His character, like his namesake the decemvir's is not easy to define.

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Words near decemvir in the Dictionary