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.
Hear it pronounced