duumviraten.

/djuːˈʌmvɪrət/

Etymology: < Latin duumvirātus, < duumvir : see -ate suffix¹.

1. The position or office of the Roman duumvirs; the joint office or authority of two.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > rule or government > a or the system of government > government by specific number of rulers > [noun] > by two

duarchy1586

binarchy1656

duumvirate1656

duumviracy1659

duumvirateship1679

diarchy1835

biarchy1847

1656 T. Blount Glossographia Duumvirate, the Office of the Duumvir in Rome, or of two in equal Authority, and may be taken for the Sheriffship of the City of London, or of any other place, where two are in joynt Authority.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) The Duumvirate lasted till the Year of Rome 388; when it was chang'd into a Decemvirate.

1831 Fraser's Mag. 3 137 A Swift and Pope can even found an imperious Duumvirate.

1894 W. K. Hill Life of W. H. Widgery , title p. The government of children is a duumvirate of teacher and parent.

2. A coalition of two men; a pair of officials or of men associated in any office or position.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > two > pair > [noun] > of people

twosomec1480

brace1606

couple1759

duumvirate1771

Arcades ambo1821

duo1887

1771 Magna Charta in Newell Inquest Jurymen (1825) 104 The livery..had made a resolution to walk before this illustrious Duumvirate [two Magistrates released from confinement] to the Mansion-House.

1807 R. Wilson Jrnl. 28 June in Life Gen. Sir R. Wilson (1862) II. viii. 283 The duumvirate were three hours together.

a1828 H. Neele Lit. Remains (1829) 29 That highly gifted duumvirate, Beaumont and Fletcher.

Derivatives

So (in sense 1).

† duˈumvirateship n. (obsolete).

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