chiliarch

[ kil-ee-ahrk ]

noun

1. (in ancient Greece) the military commander of 1000 men.

Other Words From

• chili·archy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chiliarch¹

1650–60; < Latin chiliarchēs (or chiliarchus ) < Greek chiliárchēs (or chiliárchos ), equivalent to chī́li ( oi ) 1000 + -archēs (or -archos ) -arch

Example Sentences

We know that Alexander elevated Hephaestion to “chiliarch,” a position second only to Alexander himself, around 330 B.C.

From National Geographic

Chil′iagon, a plane figure having 1000 angles; Chil′iahēdron, a solid figure having 1000 sides; Chil′iarch, a leader or commander of a thousand men; Chil′iarchy, the position of chiliarch; Chil′iasm, the doctrine that Christ will reign bodily upon the earth for 1000 years; Chil′iast, one who holds this opinion.

From Project Gutenberg

Antipater on his death-bed appointed Polysperchon to the supreme command, and gave Kassander the post of chiliarch, or general of the body guard.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover Roxanes the chiliarch, as Themistokles passed by him in silence into the king's presence, whispered, "Thou subtle serpent of Greece, the king's good genius has led thee hither."

From Project Gutenberg

At this perilous crisis Themistokles first applied to Artabanus, a chiliarch, or officer in command of a regiment of a thousand men, whom he told that he was a Greek, and that he wished to have an interview with the king about matters of the utmost importance, and in which the king was especially interested.

From Project Gutenberg