aedile

American  

[ee-dahyl] / ˈi daɪl /

Or edile

noun

Roman History.

1. one of a board of magistrates in charge of public buildings, streets, markets, games, etc.

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aedile British  

/ ˈiːdaɪl /

noun

1. a magistrate of ancient Rome in charge of public works, games, buildings, and roads

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Other Word Forms

• aedileship noun
• aedilitian adjective

Etymology

Origin of aedile

1570–80; < Latin aedīlis, equivalent to aedi- (stem of aedēs; aedicule ) + -īlis -ile

Example Sentences

Scipio was elected aedile, one of four magistrates responsible for Rome’s public buildings and religious games, at 22.

From The Wall Street Journal

Under imperial law, this was the responsibility of an elected magistrate known as an aedile—the most powerful of whom was Agrippa, who later built the Pantheon.

From Slate

Vespasian fixed streets as aedile but failed to keep them clean, which so infuriated Caligula that he ordered soldiers “to load him with mud,” Suetonius writes, “stuffing into the fold of his senatorial gown as much as it could hold.”

From Slate

Aulus Vettius Firmus writes up his election address and appeals to the pilicrepi or ball-players for their votes for him as aedile.

From Project Gutenberg

In 199 he was quaestor, and the next year, passing over the regular stages of aedile and praetor, he obtained the consulship.

From Project Gutenberg