Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In Greek antiquity, a guardian of the laws; specifically, one of a board of seven magistrates which, during the age of Pericles, sat in presence of the popular assembly of Athens, and adjourned the meeting if it apprehended that the people were about to be carried away into taking unlawful action, and also watched the observance and enforcement of the laws. There were magistrates bearing the same name at Sparta also, and in other Greek states.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • “Because I am Kassianos, nomophylax — chief counsel, you might say — to the most holy ecumenical Patriarch Tarasios, prelate of Videssos the city and Videssos the Empire.

    Counting Up, Counting Down Turtledove, Harry 2002

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