duumvir

American  

[doo-uhm-ver, dyoo-] / duˈʌm vər, dyu- /

noun

Roman History.

plural

duumvirs, duumviri

1. one of two officers or magistrates jointly exercising the same public function.

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duumvir British  

/ djuːˈʌmvə /

noun

1. Roman history one of two coequal magistrates or officers

2. either of two men who exercise a joint authority

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Etymology

Origin of duumvir

1590–1600; < Latin, back formation from duumvirōrum, genitive plural of duovirī two men, equivalent to duo- duo- + virī, plural of vir man, cognate with Old English wer ( see werewolf)

Example Sentences

Probably a consular personage, a duumvir, since lictors lead the line.

From The Wonders of Pompeii by Monnier, Marc

Hunt and his young fry are left stranded at Pisa, to be adopted by the remaining duumvir, Lord Byron—his wife and 6 children & their maid.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 6 Letters 1821-1842 by Lamb, Mary

Of the ambitious who are to accompany him there is one, a son of the late duumvir Quintus Arrius.

From Ben-Hur; a tale of the Christ by Wallace, Lewis

Caius Servilius, duumvir, also dedicated a temple of Jupiter, in the island.

From The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 by Livius, Titus

The central temple is believed to be that of Piety, built by M. Acilius Glabrio, the duumvir, in B.C.

From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.