[ad. Gr. ἔφορος (= Epic ἐπίουρος) overseer, overlooker, f. ἐπί upon + root *Ϝορ, as in ὁράειν to see. Also used in L. pl. form ephori, whence app. the form ephories in 16–17th c.]
1. The title given to certain magistrates in various Dorian states, esp. at Sparta, where the five ephors, appointed annually by popular election, exercised a controlling power over the kings.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1589), 547. To content the people, they appointed five Ephories who were chosen out of the people, as Tribunes to keep away tyranny.
1594. Mirr. Policie (1599), B b. Those vvhich are good, vvould curbe and bridle him: As the Ephori did the kings of Lacedemonia.
1602. L. Lloyd, Confer. Lawes, 43. The Areopagites in Athens, from the Ephories in Sparta,… to the Amphictions at Trozæna.
1642. Coll. Rights & Priv. Parl., 10. At Lacedemonia, the Ephors: at Athens, the Demarches &c.
1689. Def. Liberty agst. Tyrants, 76. The Ephores or Controllers of the Kings.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, I. 321. Before the ephors made an exception, every one rose at his [the king’s] approach.
† b. transf. Obs. rare.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1703), II. VI. 5. Mr Hollis, Sr Walter Earl, and other Ephori.
1732. Wogan, Lett., in Swift’s Wks. (1824), XVII. 485. Their [kings’ of England] inherent rights … were but mere feathers, the sport of every wind that blew from the ephori of the people.
2. In modern Greece: An overseer, superintendent of public works.
1890. Athenæum, 15 March, 252/1. The excavations at Lycosoura … will now be resumed, under the direction of the Ephor, B. A. Leonardos.
Hence Ephoral a., of or pertaining to the ephors. Ephoralty, the office of ephor; also, the body of ephors. Ephorate: see quot. Ephoric a. = ephoral. † Ephorism, nonce-wd., a tribunal resembling that of the ephors. † Esphorize v. Obs., to exercise a controlling influence over; to over-rule as the ephors did. Ephorship, the term of office as ephor. † Ephory [cf. Gr. ἐφορεία], the body of ephors.
1836. Lytton, Athens (1837), I. 209. Aristotle … paints the evil of the *ephoral magistrature, but acknowledges that it gave strength and durability to the state.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., i. (1862), 18. It was not till above a century after his decease that the Ephoral power became any protection to the people.
1833. Lewis, in Philol. Museum, II. 49. Dr. Arnold then proceeds to describe the *Ephoralty as a magistracy contrived for the purpose of [etc.].
1869. Rawlinson, Anc. Hist., 267. At the same time he abolished the Ephoralty.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., III. 42. An *ephorate or court of supreme revision for laws and magistracies.
1846. Grote, Greece (1862), II. vi. 144. The annual *ephoric oath of office.
1633. James, in Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 9. Thrice I have bin hal’d before Our *Ephorismes of state.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler (ed. 3), 50. And these Essentialls, must not be *Ephorized or Tribuned by one or a few Mens discretion.
1850. Grote, Greece, II. lxii. VIII. 31. In this 13th year of the reign of Darius, and in the *ephorship of Alexippidas at Lacedæmon.
1689. trans. Buchanan’s De Jure Regni apud Scotos, 42. Upbraiding him that by adding the *Ephory he [Theopompus] had diminished the Power of his Authority.
