proconsul

[ proh-kon-suh l ]

/ proʊˈkɒn səl /

noun

Roman History. an official, usually a former consul, who acted as governor or military commander of a province, and who had powers similar to those of a consul.

any appointed administrator over a dependency or an occupied area.

Nearby words

proclivity, proclus, procne, procoagulant, procollagen, proconsul, proconsulate, proconvertin, procopius, procrastinate, procrastination

Origin of proconsul

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin prōconsul; see pro-¹, consul

Related forms

pro·con·su·lar, adjectivepro·con·su·lar·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for proconsular

He went to Africa with proconsular authority, and of course fleeced the Africans.
Life of Cicero|Anthony Trollope
The year 51-50 Cicero spent, most unwillingly, as proconsular governor in far-off Cilicia.
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 9|Various
The Consuls remained at home, and Generals were sent out with proconsular authority.
Life of Cicero|Anthony Trollope
Finding a suitable building for the Proconsular Palace would present difficulties.
A Slave is a Slave|Henry Beam Piper

A legate being appointed by the emperor over the conquered countries, Britain became a proconsular province.
Old English Chronicles|Various

British Dictionary definitions for proconsular

proconsul

/ (prəʊˈkɒnsəl) /

noun

an administrator or governor of a colony, occupied territory, or other dependency

(in ancient Rome) the governor of a senatorial province

Derived Forms

proconsular (prəʊˈkɒnsjʊlə), adjectiveproconsulate or proconsulship, noun

Word Origin for proconsul

C14: from Latin, from prō consule (someone acting) for the consul. See pro- ², consul

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