proconsul

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   in ancient Rome, a former consul or other magistrate given consular authority to govern a province or command an army

   The proconsul governed the province and commanded its legions on Rome's behalf.

2. 2
   noun

   a governor or administrator exercising extensive delegated power, especially in a colony or dependency

   Critics described the imperial administrator as a proconsul with almost unchecked authority.

Borrowed from Latin proconsul, based on pro consule, 'in place of a consul.' The Roman title first denoted a magistrate exercising consular authority after or instead of a consulship, especially as a provincial governor; it later broadened to powerful delegated administrators.

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