Proconsul - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A proconsul was a governor or military commander in ancient Rome, appointed to oversee a province. The term can also refer to a person with similar authority in modern contexts.
Definition:
A governor or military commander in ancient Rome, or a high-ranking official in a modern colony.
Synonyms:
governor, administrator, magistrate, commander
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
subordinate, citizen
Common Collocations:
proconsul of Asia, proconsul’s authority, former proconsul
Derivatives:
proconsular, proconsulate
Usage Tips:
Use "proconsul" to refer to ancient Roman officials or modern colonial administrators with broad authority.
Common Phrases:
rule like a proconsul, proconsul’s decree, under the proconsul’s command
Etymology:
From Latin "pro consule," meaning "in place of a consul," reflecting delegated authority.
Examples:
- 1. The proconsul governed the province with strict laws.
- 2. Julius Caesar served as proconsul in Gaul before becoming dictator.
- 3. The emperor appointed his trusted general as proconsul of the eastern territories.
- 4. Modern historians compare colonial governors to Roman proconsuls in their exercise of power.