Sunday, January 05, 2014

word of the day: aedile

The word of the day is aedile:

Etymology:  < classical Latin aedīlis Roman magistrate charged with the supervision of public buildings, games, markets, and other municipal matters < aedēs , aedis building, house (see edifice n.) + -īlis -il suffix. In extended sense ‘municipal officer’ after French édile (1754 in this sense; 1213 in Old French denoting a magistrate in ancient Rome).
 A. n.  Roman Hist. Any of several magistrates who superintended public buildings, policing, and other municipal matters. Hence in extended use: a person in charge of urban housing and building; a municipal officer. (OED)

"No such titan ever visited
during my days as aedile."

 - John Ashbery, "Gravy for the prisoners", 26 August 2013 The New Yorker

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