duumvirate

/djuːˈʌmvɪɹət/

Etymology

From Latin duumvirātus, from duumvir + -ātus. Equivalent to duumvir + -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office, here the group of people involved with it).

noun

  1. Synonym of diarchy: rule by two people, especially two men.“To replace the all-powerful Salan, de Gaulle appointed a duumvirate – Paul Delouvrier and General Maurice Challe.”
  2. Any of several offices of the Roman Republic held by two joint magistrates known as duumvirs.