senate
[sen-it]
- an assembly or council of citizens having the highest deliberative functions in a government, especially a legislative assembly of a state or nation.
- (initial capital letter) the upper house of the legislature of certain countries, as the United States, France, Italy, Canada, Ireland, Republic of South Africa, Australia, and some Latin American countries.
- the room or building in which such a group meets.
- Roman History. the supreme council of state, the membership and functions of which varied at different periods.
- a governing, advisory, or disciplinary body, as in certain universities.
Show More
Origin of senate
1175–1225; Middle English senat < Latin senātus council of elders, equivalent to sen(ex) old + -ātus -ate3
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for senate
Contemporary Examples
This is going to be the Game of Thrones of U.S. Senate races.
This Congress will welcome more women than ever before at 19 percent of the House and 20 percent of the Senate.
AIDS insanity: When running for the US Senate in 1992, Huckabee called for a quarantine of people who had AIDS.
It was a Senate floor soap opera over none other than a soap-opera producer.
Still, for all of this, South Carolina is now represented in the U.S. Senate by Tim Scott, a Republican and an African-American.
Historical Examples
The challenges before us will be thrashed out with the House and the Senate.
Nothing else can be appealed to in the field, or in the senate.
In 1844, he was elected to the State Senate from the Franklin district.
Cleveland Past and PresentMaurice Joblin
Mr. Rice made the closing speech on the School Bill, in the Senate, on the 24th.
Cleveland Past and PresentMaurice Joblin
At Lanuvium there was a society known as the "Senate of Women."
The Truth About WomanC. Gasquoine Hartley
senate
- any legislative or governing body considered to resemble a Senate
- the main governing body at some colleges and universities
Show More
Word Origin
C13: from Latin senātus council of the elders, from senex an old man
Senate
- the upper chamber of the legislatures of the US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries
- the legislative council of ancient Rome. Originally the council of the kings, the Senate became the highest legislative, judicial, and religious authority in republican Rome
- the ruling body of certain free cities in medieval and modern Europe
Show More
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
Word Origin and History for senate
n.
c.1200, "legal and administrative body of ancient Rome," from Old French senat or Latin senatus "highest council of the state in ancient Rome," literally "council of elders," from senex (genitive senis) "old man, old" (see senile). Attested from late 14c. in reference to governing bodies of free cities in Europe; of national governing bodies from 1550s; specific sense of upper house of U.S. legislature is recorded from 1775.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper