dĕcem-vĭri (in MSS. and old edd. often Xviri), um or ōrum (gen.-virum, Cic. Agr. 2, 15, 39; 2, 21, 56; id. Rep. 2, 36, 61; Varr. L. L. 9, § 85 Müll.; Liv. 27, 8; 40, 12: -virorum only in Liv., where it is very freq.), m. [vir], a college or commission of ten men, the decemviri or decemvirs, Roman magistrates of various kinds.
I The most famous were called decemviri legibus scribundis, the composers of the Twelve Tables , who ruled alone, and absolutely, in the years of Rome 303 to 305 (legally only 303 and 304; hence "neque decemviralis potestas ultra biennium," Tac. A. 1, 1), Cic. Rep. 2, 36 sq.; Liv. 3, 32 sq.; Gell. 20, 1, 3.—In sing., Cic. Rep. 2, 36 fin. ; Liv. 3, 33 fin. ; 40; 46; 48 al. The fragments which remain of these laws form one of the most important monuments of the early Latin language; and have been critically edited by R. Schoell, Leips., 1866; cf. Momms. Rom. Hist. book 2, ch. 2; Lange, Röm. Alter. 1, 535 sqq.; Wordsworth, Fragm. p. 503 sq.—
II Decemviri stlitibus (litibus) judicandis, a standing tribunal for deciding causes involving liberty or citizenship, and which represented the praetor , Cic. Or. 46, 156; Suet. Aug. 36; Dig. 1, 2, 2, § 29; Corp. Inscr. Lat. 8, 38 (A. U. C. 615); cf. Cic. Caec. 33, 97. —In the sing., Inscr. Orell. no. 133 and 554. —
III Decemviri agris dividundis, a commission for distributing the public land to the people , Cic. Agr. 1, 6 sq.; 2, 7 sq.; Liv. 31, 4 and 42; cf.: X. VIR. A. D. A. (i. e. decemviri agris dandis assignandis), Inscr. Orell. 544.—
IV Decemviri sacris faciundis, a college of priests who preserved the Sibylline books, had charge of the Apollinaria , etc.; its number in the time of the emperors was increased to sixty , Liv. 10, 8; 25, 12 al.—In sing., Inscr. Orell. 554.