duumvir
Americannoun
-
duumvirs,
plural
-
duumviri
plural
noun
-
Roman history one of two coequal magistrates or officers
-
either of two men who exercise a joint authority
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of duumvir
1590–1600; < Latin, back formation from duumvirōrum, genitive plural of duovirī two men, equivalent to duo- duo- + virī, plural of vir man, cognate with Old English wer ( see werewolf)
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.
See Examples For:
The passenger is the agent going to dispose of the estate derived from Arrius the duumvir.
From Ben-Hur; a tale of the Christ by Lewis Wallace
But in return for its liabilities, the position of a duumvir gave undoubted power and distinction.
From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Samuel Dill
Malluch lingered to say, quickly, "The duumvir was a Roman, yet I see his son in the garments of a Jew."
From Ben-Hur; a tale of the Christ by Lewis Wallace
Probably a consular personage, a duumvir, since lictors lead the line.
From The Wonders of Pompeii by Marc Monnier
In such a case the presiding duumvir was to nominate the required number, they in turn an equal number, and the combined nominees had to designate a third set equal in number to themselves.
From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Samuel Dill
Several inscriptions use this name, as also the bronze coins which bear the heads of Augustus and Tiberius, and were struck at first in the name of the suffetes, afterwards in that of duumviri.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various
At the summit of the town is a beautiful little Doric tetrastyle temple, belonging probably to the 1st century B.C., built of limestone with an inscription recording its erection by the duumviri.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4 "Coquelin" to "Costume" by Various
They were first appointed in 367 B.C. instead of the patrician duumviri who had hitherto performed these duties.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 10 "David, St" to "Demidov" by Various
They were governed upon the model of the Republic: had two consuls called duumviri; a senate called decuriones or collegium decurionum, and other magistrates similar to those of the Republic.
From Life of Adam Smith by John Rae
But there was a right of appeal to the Curia from judicial decisions of the duumvirs in certain cases.
From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Samuel Dill
These officers, who were always unconnected with the municipality, took over the financial control, which had previously belonged to the duumvirs and quaestors.
From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Samuel Dill
In a relief of the time of Heliogabalus a meteoric stone is seen carried in procession, preceded by duumvirs, lictors, &c.—an evidence of an Oriental cult practised in Aquileia.
From The Shores of the Adriatic The Austrian Side, The Küstenlande, Istria, and Dalmatia by F. Hamilton (Frederick Hamilton) Jackson
Marcus Staius Rufus, son of M. Rufus, duumvirs of justice for the second time, caused the labrum to be made at the public expense, by order of the Decurions.
From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by T. L. (Thomas Louis) Haines
There are some who state that he was condemned by duumvirs appointed to inquire concerning cases of treason.
From The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Titus Livius
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
