ephor

[ef-awr, ef-er]

noun

plural

ephors, ephori 

1. one of a body of magistrates in various ancient Dorian states, especially at Sparta, where a body of five was elected annually by the people.

ephor

/ ˈɛfɔː /

noun

1. (in ancient Greece) one of a board of senior magistrates in any of several Dorian states, esp the five Spartan ephors, who were elected by vote of all full citizens and who wielded effective power

Other Word Forms

• ephoral adjective
• ephorate noun
• ephoralty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ephor¹

1580–90; < Latin ephorus < Greek éphoros overseer, guardian, ruler (Compare ephorân to look over, equivalent to ep- ep- + horân to see, look)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ephor¹

C16: from Greek ephoros, from ephoran to supervise, from _epi- + horan to look

Example Sentences

In historical times it numbered twenty-eight members, to whom were added ex officio the two kings and, later, the five ephors.

From Project Gutenberg

Thucydides, at the opening of his second book, fixes his main date by the year of the priestess of Hera at Argos, by the Spartan ephor, and by the Athenian archon.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally, the ephors were supreme in questions of foreign policy.

From Project Gutenberg

In later times, too, the actual debate was almost, if not wholly, confined to the kings, elders, ephors and perhaps the other magistrates.

From Project Gutenberg

In Sparta, however, so little was known of any despotic measure of the gerontes, that, on the contrary, the constitution was impaired when their antagonist office, the ephors, gained the ascendency in influence and power.

From Project Gutenberg