de·cem·vir (d -s m v r)n. pl. de·cem·virs or de·cem·vi·ri (-v -r  ) 1. One of a body of ten Roman magistrates, especially a member of one of two such bodies appointed in 451 and 450 b.c. to draw up a code of laws. 2. One of an authoritative body of ten. [Middle English, from Latin, sing. of decemvir , commission of ten men : decem, ten; see dek in Indo-European roots + vir, pl. of vir, man; see w-ro- in Indo-European roots.]de·cem vi·ral adj.de·cem vi·rate (-vr-t, -v-r t) n. |
decemvir [dɪˈsɛmvə]
n pl -virs, -viri [-vɪˌriː]
1. (Historical Terms) (in ancient Rome) a member of a board of ten magistrates, esp either of the two commissions established in 451 and 450 bc to revise the laws
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a member of any governing body composed of ten men
[from Latin, from decem ten + virī men]
decemviral adj
Decemvir a body of ten men acting as a commission, 1579.
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