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gonfalonier

American  
[gon-fuh-luh-neer] / ˌgɒn fə ləˈnɪər /

noun

  1. the bearer of a gonfalon.

  2. a chief magistrate or some other elected official in any of several medieval Italian republics.


gonfalonier British  
/ ˌɡɒnfələˈnɪə /

noun

  1. the chief magistrate or other official of a medieval Italian republic, esp the bearer of the republic's gonfalon

"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

Etymology

Origin of gonfalonier

1580–90; < French < Italian gonfaloniere. See gonfalon, -ier 2

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.

There were moult and moult clergy, about two dozen dames, that treated one another with illustrissima and brown kisses, the vice-legate, the gonfalonier, and some senate.

From The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford — Volume 1 by Cunningham, Peter

In some of the Guelf cities, there is "a gonfalonier of justice," to curb the nobility.

From Outline of Universal History by Fisher, George Park

Then we entered the palace, led by Michael di Lando, who bore the standard of the gonfalonier of justice.

From Chit-Chat; Nirvana; The Searchlight by Holt, Mathew Joseph

In 1419 Giovanni increased his popularity by founding the Spedale degli Innocenti, and in 1421 he was elected gonfalonier, or, as we might now say, President of the Republic.

From A Wanderer in Florence by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)

He also ordered, that as it had been customary for the gonfalonier to sit upon the right hand of the rectors, he should in future take his seat in the midst of them.

From History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy by Machiavelli, Niccolò