senate English · revision 2921

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200|origins=la senātus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsen.ɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|senat]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|senat]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly from [[la|senātus|t=the highest council of the Roman state]], literally “council of elders”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|senex|t=old man, old]], genitive senis,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*sen-|t=old]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[senior]] and [[senile]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Roman senate: probably before 1200, in Layamon's ''Brut'',^(Barnhart 1988) about 1200 in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and about 1205 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The governing body of a free city in Europe is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) about 1380 in Chaucer's translation of Boethius.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A national governing assembly is from the 1550s in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and 1560 in the OED,^(OED 1989) usually the upper or smaller house of a legislature.^(Etymonline) The upper house of the US Congress is a ''senate'' from 1775, first in the letters of Abigail Adams.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) In Cambridge and some other British universities it is the governing body, from 1736.^(OED 1989) ''Senator'' is also from before 1200.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – the Roman senate.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1380 – the council of a city.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1550s – a national assembly.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1736 – a university senate.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1775 – the US Senate.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The upper house of a [[legislature]], as in the [[United States]] or Australia.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The highest council of state in ancient Rome.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A governing or advisory body, as of some universities.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[senator]]

+ * [[senatorial]]

+ * [[senescent]]

+ * [[senile]]

+ * [[senior]]

+ * [[sir]]

+ * [[seignior]]

+ * [[senescence]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}