Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Senate
Sen′ate
,Noun.
1.
An assembly or council having the highest deliberative and legislative functions.
Specifically: (a)
(Anc. Rom.)
A body of elders appointed or elected from among the nobles of the nation, and having supreme legislative authority.
The
senate
was thus the medium through which all affairs of the whole government had to pass. Dr. W. Smith.
(b)
The upper and less numerous branch of a legislature in various countries, as in France, in the United States, in most of the separate States of the United States, and in some Swiss cantons.
(c)
In general, a legislative body; a state council; the legislative department of government.
2.
The governing body of the Universities of Cambridge and London.
[Eng.]
3.
In some American colleges, a council of elected students, presided over by the president of the college, to which are referred cases of discipline and matters of general concern affecting the students.
[U. S.]
Senate chamber
, a room where a senate meets when it transacts business.
– Senate house
, a house where a senate meets when it transacts business.
Webster 1828 Edition
Senate
SEN'ATE
,Noun.
1.An a assembly or council of senators; a body of the principal inhabitants of the city or state,
with a share in the government. The senate of ancient Rome was one of the most illustrious bodies of men that ever bore this name. Some of the Swiss cantons have a senate, either legislative or executive.
2. In the United States, senate denotes the higher branch or house of legislature. Such is the senate of the United States, or upper house of the congress; and in most of the states, the higher and least numerous branch of the legislature, is called the senate. In the U. States, the senate is an elective body.
3. In a looser sense, Any legislative or deliberative boky of men; as the eloquence of the senate.