decemvirate


de·cem·vir

D0070400 (dĭ-sĕm′vər)n. pl. de·cem·virs or de·cem·vi·ri (-və-rī′) 1. One of a body of ten Roman magistrates, especially a member of one of two such bodies appointed in 451 and 450 bc to draw up a code of laws.2. One of an authoritative body of ten.
[Middle English, from Latin, sing. of decemvirī, commission of ten men : decem, ten; see dekm̥ in Indo-European roots + virī, pl. of vir, man; see wī-ro- in Indo-European roots.]
de·cem′vi·ral adj.de·cem′vi·rate (-vər-ĭt, -və-rāt′) n.

decemvirate

(dɪˈsɛmvɪrɪt; -ˌreɪt) n1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a board of decemvirs2. (Law) a board of decemvirs3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the rule or rank of decemvirs4. (Law) the rule or rank of decemvirs