decemvirate

American  

[dih-sem-ver-it, -vuh-reyt] / dɪˈsɛm vər ɪt, -vəˌreɪt /

noun

1. a board or group of decemvirs.

2. the office or government of decemvirs.

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decemvirate British  

/ -ˌreɪt, dɪˈsɛmvɪrɪt /

noun

1. a board of decemvirs

2. the rule or rank of decemvirs

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Etymology

Origin of decemvirate

From the Latin word decemvirātus, dating back to 1610–20. See decemvir, -ate ³

Example Sentences

Of the decemvirate Servius Oppius and Appius Claudius remained at home: the other eight set out against the enemy.

From Dio's Rome, Volume 1 (of 6) An Historical Narrative Originally Composed in Greek during the Reigns of Septimius Severus, Geta and Caracalla, Macrinus, Elagabalus and Alexander Severus: and Now Presented in English Form by Dio, Cassius

The decemvirate instituted at Rome; the Twelve Tables of law framed.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 02 (From the Rise of Greece to the Christian Era) by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)

Jacobs understands the word decemvirate not to refer to any positive form of government, but generally to designate a tyranny, such as that which the Lacedaemonians used to introduce into conquered cities.

From The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demosthenes Literally translated with notes by Kennedy, Charles Rann

For his fraud in pretending to the commons to be well disposed towards them, was happily contrived; as were also the means he took to bring about the reappointment of the decemvirate.

From Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius by Thomson, Ninian Hill

The decemvirate, one of the triumphs of the plebs, could hardly have been abolished by that body, but would naturally have been overthrown by the patricians.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various