a. and sb. Also 4–5 -er, 6 -are. [ad. L. consulār-is, f. consul: see -AR. Cf. F. consulaire of 14th c.] A. adj.
1. Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of the Roman consuls, or (in recent history) the French consulate of 1799–1804.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. (1822), 320. Thay concludit to mak tribunis militare, with power consulare.
1636. E. Dacres, trans. Machiavel’s Disc. Livy, I. 75. The Romans … made use of them [Soothsayings] in their Consular assemblies.
1705. Hearne, Collect., 2 Sept. I. 39. He has not many Consular [Coyns].
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. xil 244. He had twice been invested with the consular dignity.
1870. Emerson, Plutarch, Wks. (Bohn), III. 340. Having received from Trajan the consular dignity.
b. (See quot.)
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 67. The consular case took the place of the pair cases in very old watches, and was so named in honour of Napoleon Bonaparte, at that time Consul of France.
2. Of or belonging to a consul in a foreign port.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., II. 271. The consular tribunal was abolished … the duties on merchandise … were increased.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls. (1872), I. 31. To pay a consular fee.
1868. G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 53. We have consuls, or inferior consular officers at all the principal ports.
B. sb. A man of consular rank; esp. under the Roman republic, an ex-consul, and, under the empire, a legate sent as governor of a province.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. vi. 51. Þilke dignitee þat men clepiþ þe emperie of consulers.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan., Brife Supput., 11. Iust cesar first beig consolar & eftsone the first emprowr of Rome.
1741. Middleton, Cicero (ed. 3), I. IV. 242. That venerable bench of Consulars, who were justly reckoned the first Citizens of the Republic.
1862. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), IV. xxxvii. 269. To unite her with some noble consular.
