Ordo
In a general sense, a row or series of objects. Hence
1.
, in naval language, a row or tier of oars in a ship, as to which, see
Navis.
2.
In Roman political language, the word is applied to any body of men forming a distinct and
separate class in the community, either as possessing special privileges, or as pursuing some
special occupation. Thus, the senators are spoken of collectively as the
ordo
senatorius, the knights as the
ordo equester; the priests (
sacerdotes) as
ordo sacerdotalis. The plebeians,
however, are now spoken of as an ordo. The Senate, being the august body, is sometimes called
amplissimus ordo at Rome, and in colonies and
municipia the local Senate is
ordo decurionum. (See
Decuriones.) The
libertini
formed a separate ordo, and so did the
scribae, the
tribuni aerarii, and the
publicani. At Rome the Senate and
equestrians are often styled
uterque ordo, as being
the orders
par excellence.
3.
In military language, the word is applied to a company or troop of soldiers, and is used as
equivalent to
centuria, as the first centuries in a legion are sometimes
called
primi ordines. See
Legio.
