caesar

plural caesars

1. An emperor of Ancient Rome.
2. Any emperor, ruler, or dictator.
3. alternativeAlternative form of Caesar.
4. Any agaric mushroom of the genus Amanita, section Amanita sect. Caesareae.

plural Caesars · plural Caesares · alternative archaic Cæsar · alternative obsolete Cesar

1. An ancient Roman family name, notably that of Julius Caesar.

   Five of the Caesares were killed during the years 90-85 (D. G., 3, 114).

   1975, Collection Latomus, volume 142, page 39

   5 more examples

   The Caesars were an ancient and aristocratic family, which for eight generations had been prominent in the commonwealth.

   1891, William Rainey Harper, Herbert Cushing Tolman, Eight Books of Caesar’s Gallic War, New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati, Oh.; Chicago, Ill.: American Book Company, page 2

   Habel, 63 ff., believes that up to 51 the emperors bestowed priesthoods on the Caesares, using their special power of commendation; but that these Caesares were forced to wait until a place in a college was vacant; that after 51 the Caesares were elected by the senate.

   1955, Papers and Monographs of the American Academy in Rome, volume 16, page 100

   To the powerful, the Caesares were flattering, deferential, sincerely devoted, self-sacrificing, loyal, eagerly serving.

   1965, Taylor Caldwell, A Pillar of Iron, Doubleday, →ISBN, page 128

   […] Off. 1.133 and Att. 13.19.4 do not establish the uterine relationship of Catulus and the Caesares, merely the fact that Catulus and the Caesares were regarded as fratres.

   1996, Antichthon, volumes 34–36, page 56

   Of the two plebeian candidates Silanus obviously counted on the assistance of Manlius, who was in office and to whom he was related from the grandfather, but his rival, a Minucius who had become a Marcius, counted on the patrician rival Caesar and on the other consul, L. Aurelius Cotta, because the Caesares were related by marriage both with the Marcii and the Cottae; in fact, Silanus was defeated by their coalition.

   1999, Friedrich Münzer, translated by Thérèse Ridley, Roman Aristocratic Parties and Families, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 319

2. figurativelyThe government; society; earthly powers.

   Render therefore vnto Ceſar, the things which are Ceſars: and vnto God, the things that are Gods.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 22:21

   4 more examples

   let it be clearly understood that we are dealing with Life solely in its geological aspects. We appeal unto Caesar; let us be judged by Caesar’s laws.

   1861, David Page, The past and present life of the globe, page 9

   Caesar may discriminate unjustly against certain races. Christians are not to take issue with Caesar's laws on such matters and flout them, but should submit.

   1957, Awake, volume 38, number 14, page 6

   It is the story of churches that split apart over this issue and of ministers finding ways to justify the return of slaves because they were under the aegis of the laws of Caesar, not the laws of God.

   2003, Carol Kammen, On Doing Local History, page 76

   But I know that Caesar's laws have been broken, and someone has to pay. I'm your man. These are good monks. If they committed any crime, it was to believe in me.

   2012, Christopher Buckley, God Is My Broker

plural Caesars · error unknown tag plural Caesares · alternative caesar · alternative archaic Cæsar · alternative obsolete Cesar

1. A title of Roman emperors.

   Constantius Chlorus and Galerius became Caesares in 293; […]

   1889, The Classical Review, volume III, London: David Nutt, […], page 232

   2 more examples

   Owing to the victories gained in the wars from 295-297, the two Augusti, Diocletian and Maximian, and the two Caesares, Galerius and Constantius Chlorus, took the title of Carpicus Maximus, the last three receiving this title five times after the fighting from 302-303 (see Table 13).

   1976, The Archaeology and History of the Carpi from the Second to the Fourth Century AD, →ISBN, page 171

   For within the principia the highest, and focal, point of the whole ensemble is formed by the ‘temple of the standards’, on whose lintel a Latin inscription proudly proclaimed the completion of the work: ‘The Repairers of their world and Propagators of the human race, our Lords Diocletianus and Maximianus, the most unconquered Imperatores, and Constantius and Maximianus (i.e., Galerius), the most noble Caesares, have successfully founded the camp (castra), under the care of Sossianus Hierocles, vir perfectissimus, governor (praeses) of the province, devoted to their numen and maiestas’.

   1993, Fergus Millar, The Roman Near East, 31 BC – AD 337, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 182

2. An absolute ruler; an autocrat.
3. abbreviationAbbreviation of Caesar salad.

   I tell her that I would love a Caesar, which happens to be my favorite salad.

   2012, Paul Sunshine Murphy, The Island Caper, 2nd edition, Mustang, Okla.: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, →ISBN, page 48

   1 more example

   A garlicky Caesar is a nice starter with whole Romaine leaves and crispy sourdough croutons, but most can’t resist the creamy, but very rich, signature lobster soup.

   2010, Cara Goldsbury, The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World® Resort: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer, 3rd edition, Guilford, Conn.: GPP Travel, →ISBN, page 309

4. CanadaA Caesar cocktail.
5. abbreviationclippingcolloquialmedicineClipping of Caesarean section.