Sēn'ate, n.

n. [Lat. senatus, from senex, senis, old, an old man; Fr. sénat, It. senato, Sp. *senado.]

1. An assembly or council of citizens distinguished by birth, dignities, wealth, influence, &c., and invested with a share in the government; as, (a.) (Anc. Rome.) 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.” W. Smith. (b.) Hence, the upper or 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. Hence, in general, a legislative body; a state council; the legislative department of a government.
2. (University of Cambridge, Eng.) The governing body of the university.

☞ It is divided into two houses, denominated regents and non-regents. The former consists of masters of arts of less than five years’ standing, and doctors of less than two, and is called the upper house, or white-hood house, from its members wearing hoods lined with white silk. All other masters and doctors who keep their names on the college books are non-regents, and compose the lower house, or black-hood house, its members wearing black silk hoods. Senate-chamber, a chamber or hall in which a senate assembles. — Senate-house, a house in which a senate meets, or a place of public council.