duce

American  

[doo-chey, doo-che] / ˈdu tʃeɪ, ˈdu tʃɛ /

noun

plural

duces, duci

1. a leader or dictator.

2. il Duce the leader: applied especially to Benito Mussolini as head of the fascist Italian state.

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Duce ¹ British  

/ ˈduːtʃe /

noun

1. the title assumed by Benito Mussolini as leader of Fascist Italy (1922–43)

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duce ² British  

/ ˈduːtʃɪ, ˈduːtʃe /

noun

1. leader

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Etymology

Origin of duce

First recorded in 1920–25; from Italian, from Medieval Latin dux (genitive ducis ), Latin: “leader”; duke, dux

Example Sentences

The Vietnamese politely took what they were offered, but within twenty-four hours the complaints started coming back—the “American soap … didn’t pro- duce suds or clean properly.”

From MSNBC • Jan. 9, 2018

In order to save money they contracted with a plastics company to pro duce a small butterfly-shaped part used to wind up the spring-powered paddle.

From Time Magazine Archive

Bethlehem can pro duce about 15% of the total, leaving about 42% for independent companies.

From Time Magazine Archive

In time, California will stop trying to compete with France and will pro duce wines that are uniquely and quintessentially Californian.

From Time Magazine Archive

Suppose one of those lockets of the No-Popery prince's hair offered for sale at Christie's, quot libras e duce summo invenies? how many pounds would you find for the illustrious duke?

From Henry Esmond; The English Humourists; The Four Georges by Saintsbury, George