Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Roman mythology The twelve great gods of Roman mythology, namely
Juno ,Vesta ,Minerva ,Ceres ,Diana ,Venus ,Mars ,Mercury ,Jupiter ,Neptune ,Vulcan , andApollo . - noun By extension, any illustrious or eminent group of people, not necessarily twelve in number; most frequently applied to writers of literature.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Latin di maiores “greater gods;” deus “god” + maior “greater,” comparative of magnus “great”.
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Examples
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The social, political, scientific, and military Dii Majores all depend on the journal for a part of their daily breakfast, but all soar above it.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 83, September, 1864 Various
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The group of the Twelve Apostles probably attracted the less attention because the twelve Dii Majores were often also grouped together.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 14: Simony-Tournon 1840-1916 1913
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The principal aim of this great man, for he rightly has his niche among the polar Dii Majores, was the advancement of knowledge.
Scott's Last Expedition Volume I Robert Falcon Scott 1890
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