equites

[ ek-wi-teez ]

plural nounRoman History.

mounted military units; cavalry.
members of a specially privileged class derived from the ancient Roman cavalry and having status intermediate between those of senatorial rank and the common people.

Origin of equites

<Latin, plural of eques horseman, derivative of equus horse

Words Nearby equites

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use equites in a sentence

Again the people began to hiss louder, and the equites to make still greater plaudits.
Plutarch's Lives, Volume IV | Aubrey Stewart
Not long since a man of fortune named Caepio, of the order of equites, died here.
Quintus Claudius, Volume 1 of 2 | Ernst Eckstein
The second class (equites) among other prerogatives, possessed the right to wear a gold ring on the finger.
Quintus Claudius, Volume 1 of 2 | Ernst Eckstein
Patrum exemplum secuti sunt equites imitataeque equites omnes tribus.
Selections from Viri Romae | Charles Franois L'Homond
Ita Scipio sine publica impensa suos instruxit ornavitque equites.
Selections from Viri Romae | Charles Franois L'Homond

British Dictionary definitions for equites

equites

/ (ˈɛkwɪˌtiːz) /

pl n(in ancient Rome)

the cavalry
Also called: knights members of a social order distinguished by wealth and ranking just below the senators

Origin of equites

from Latin, plural of eques horseman, from equus horse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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