triumvir

American  

[trahy-uhm-ver] / traɪˈʌm vər /

noun

plural

triumvirs, triumviri

1. Roman History. one of three officers or magistrates mutually exercising the same public function.

2. one of three persons associated in any office or position of authority.

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triumvir British  

/ traɪˈʌmvə /

noun

1. (esp in ancient Rome) a member of a triumvirate

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Other Word Forms

• triumviral adjective

Etymology

Origin of triumvir

1570–80; < Latin: literally, one man of three, back formation from trium virōrum of three men

Example Sentences

A true Southerner by birth . . . a veritable triumvir among the Tarheels .

From Time Magazine Archive

But now Crassus the third triumvir is dead; Julia, Cæsar's daughter and Pompeius's wife, whom both dearly loved, is dead.

From A Friend of Caesar A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic. Time, 50-47 B.C. by Davis, William Stearns

The populace, however, inserted the name of Radetsky in place of the triumvir, and now sing the song with impunity.

From The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851 by Various

Marcus Antonius, nicknamed Creticus in derision, elder son of Marcus Antonius, the “orator,” and father of the triumvir.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 2 "Anjar" to "Apollo" by Various

Mazzini, 376; letter to Carlo Alberto, 379-382; triumvir in Rome, 391-394, 398; death, 413.

From A Short History of Italy (476-1900) by Sedgwick, Henry Dwight