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decemvir

Etymology and origin of the Latin word decemvir

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Cato
Ultimate origin
Latin (decem,vir)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [dɛˈkɛm.wɪr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈt͡ʃɛm.vir][1]

Forms

decemvir m (genitive decemvirī); second declension[1] Also written as two words, and abbreviated Xvir.[2]

Etymology

It is a compound of decem “ten” and vir “man”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Cato, of native officials in subject territory, and Köbler's is Cicero.[2][3] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It was a member of a board of ten men, permanent or temporary: in Cicero the ten keepers of the Sibylline books, the ten traditionally appointed in 451 BC to codify the laws in the Twelve Tables, and commissioners to distribute land; in Varro judges deciding whether a person was free or a slave; and in Cato native officials in subject territory.[2]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the lawgivers of 451 BC and of the keepers of the Sibylline books.[2][3]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of judges in cases of liberty.[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A member of a board of ten, a decemvir.[2]
  2. One of the ten who drew up the Twelve Tables.[2]

Usage notes

Lewis & Short treat it under the plural decemvirī.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Decemvir.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/decemvir. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·