decemvir
1
9.9
A member of a group of ten officials in ancient Rome
- noun
- /ˈdɛsɛmˌvɪr/
- Archaic
:
decávir
- The decemvir was responsible for drafting new laws in ancient Rome.
Examples
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As a respected elder, he served as a decemvir on the town's advisory council of ten.
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In ancient Rome, a decemvir held significant power.
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In ancient Rome, each decemvir played a crucial role in drafting new laws.
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The board appointed a decemvir to represent each district in the city.
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The decemvir was responsible for overseeing the laws.
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As a decemvir, he held significant power in shaping the republic's legal framework.
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The decision of the decemvirs to rewrite the law codes was met with both support and opposition.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Decemvir comes from the Latin parts decem 'ten' and vir 'man', so it means a 'man of ten'. Think of decade or decimal for 'ten', and that helps: a decemvir is one member of a group of ten officials.