one of three persons who govern absolutely, and with equal authority, in a state. It is chiefly applied to the Roman government: Cesar, Pompey, and Crassus were the first triumvirs, who divided the government among them. There were also other officers, called triumvirs; as the triumviri or treviri capitales, who were the keepers of the public goal: they had the office of punishing malefactors; for which purpose they kept eight lictors under them.