decurion
Americannoun
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the head of a decury.
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a member of the senate of an ancient Roman colony or municipality.
noun
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a local councillor
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the commander of a troop of ten cavalrymen
Etymology
Origin of decurion
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin decuriōn- (stem of decuriō ), equivalent to decuri ( a ) a division of ten ( dec ( em ) ten + -uria -ure ) + -iōn- -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was born, son of a Roman decurion, in 387 A. D. in Kilpatrick.
From Time Magazine Archive
Suddenly a decurion of the allies dashed up beside them.
From The Lion's Brood by Duffield Osborne
The decurion was losing patience and the shepherd had grown more than ever serious.
From The City of Delight A Love Drama of the Siege and Fall of Jerusalem by Frank X. Leyendecker
And dost Thou know, worthy lord," continued the innkeeper, "what that decurion answered?
From The Pharaoh and the Priest An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt by Jeremiah Curtin
"What now, forkbearer! what now, delight of the scourges!" cried the decurion.
From The Lion's Brood by Duffield Osborne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
