triumvir

[ trahy-uhm-ver ]

noun,plural tri·um·virs, tri·um·vi·ri [trahy-uhm-vuh-rahy]. /traɪˈʌm vəˌraɪ/.
  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.

Origin of triumvir

1
1570–80; <Latin: literally, one man of three, back formation from trium virōrum of three men

Other words from triumvir

  • tri·um·vi·ral, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use triumvir in a sentence

  • These noble crusaders at length came to the fortified village of Na-jaor, where one of the triumviri met with his death.

  • It was not Brutus and Cassius against whom it was directed—the common enemies of the three Triumviri.

    The Life of Cicero | Anthony Trollope
  • By that which I have above written, your lordship will see that the Triumviri will be far enough from being kept dark.

  • Officers called Triumviri were quite common, as were Quinqueviri and Decemviri.

    Life of Cicero | Anthony Trollope
  • Three commissioners (Triumviri) were to be elected by the tribes in order to carry this law into execution.

    A Smaller History of Rome | William Smith and Eugene Lawrence

British Dictionary definitions for triumvir

triumvir

/ (traɪˈʌmvə) /


nounplural -virs or -viri (-vɪˌriː)
  1. (esp in ancient Rome) a member of a triumvirate

Origin of triumvir

1
C16: from Latin: one of three administrators, from triumvirōrum of three men, from trēs three + vir man

Derived forms of triumvir

  • triumviral, adjective

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