senate

[sen-it]

noun

1. an assembly or council of citizens having the highest deliberative functions in a government, especially a legislative assembly of a state or nation.

2. (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.

3. the room or building in which such a group meets.

4. Roman History.,  the supreme council of state, the membership and functions of which varied at different periods.

5. a governing, advisory, or disciplinary body, as in certain universities.

Senate

¹

/ ˈsɛnɪt /

noun

1. the upper chamber of the legislatures of the US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries

2. 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

3. the ruling body of certain free cities in medieval and modern Europe

senate

²

/ ˈsɛnɪt /

noun

1. any legislative or governing body considered to resemble a Senate

2. the main governing body at some colleges and universities

Word History and Origins

Origin of Senate¹

1175–1225; Middle English senat < Latin senātus council of elders, equivalent to sen ( ex ) old + -ātus -ate ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of Senate¹

C13: from Latin senātus council of the elders, from senex an old man

Example Sentences

The Dignified Death bill was passed in the senate on Wednesday, with 20 out of 31 legislators present voting in favour.

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"He said in his campaign that this adjustment would be paid for by 'la casta' – the wealthy, the politicians, the evil businessmen," says Mercedes D'Alessandro, a left-wing economist and senate candidate.

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"The Tech Industry is incentivized to capture young people's attention and hold it at the expense of their real world relationships," Padilla said prior to the bill being voted on in the state senate.

Read more on Barron's

UC-wide faculty senate leaders are demanding to know whether there have been other campus disclosures.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The firm's local spokeswoman Rachel Lord told a senate committee the ban was "well intentioned" but would risk "unintended consequences".

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• body 
• chamber 
• house 
• parliament