Sen"ate (?), n. [OE. senat, F.
sénat, fr. L. senatus, fr. senex, gen.
senis, old, an old man. See Senior, Sir.]
1. An assembly or council having the highest
deliberative and legislative functions. Specifically:
(a) (Anc. Rom.) A body of elders appointed
or elected from among the nobles of the nation, and having supreme
legislative authority.
The senate was thus the medium through which all
affairs of the whole government had to pass.
Dr. W.
Smith.
(b) The upper and less numerous branch of a
legislature in various countries, as in France, in the United States,
in most of the separate States of the United States, and in some Swiss
cantons. (c) In general, a legislative
body; a state council; the legislative department of
government.
2. The governing body of the Universities of
Cambridge and London. [Eng.]
3. In some American colleges, a council of
elected students, presided over by the president of the college, to
which are referred cases of discipline and matters of general concern
affecting the students. [U. S.]
Senate chamber, a room where a senate meets
when it transacts business. -- Senate house,
a house where a senate meets when it transacts business.
Sen"ate (?), n. [OE. senat, F.
sénat, fr. L. senatus, fr. senex, gen.
senis, old, an old man. See Senior, Sir.]
1. An assembly or council having the highest
deliberative and legislative functions. Specifically:
(a) (Anc. Rom.) A body of elders appointed
or elected from among the nobles of the nation, and having supreme
legislative authority.
The senate was thus the medium through which all
affairs of the whole government had to pass.
Dr. W.
Smith.
(b) The upper and less numerous branch of a
legislature in various countries, as in France, in the United States,
in most of the separate States of the United States, and in some Swiss
cantons. (c) In general, a legislative
body; a state council; the legislative department of
government.
2. The governing body of the Universities of
Cambridge and London. [Eng.]
3. In some American colleges, a council of
elected students, presided over by the president of the college, to
which are referred cases of discipline and matters of general concern
affecting the students. [U. S.]
Senate chamber, a room where a senate meets
when it transacts business. -- Senate house,
a house where a senate meets when it transacts business.
