Also 8 juncta. [a. Sp. (and Pg.) junta = It. giunta:—L. juncta, fem. pass. part. of jungĕre to JOIN, in Romanic used as a sb. The equivalent F. form is jointe JOINT; mod.F. junte junta, is from Sp.]
1. With reference to Spain or Italy: A deliberative or administrative council or committee.
In mod. hist. the term is best known as the name of the local councils established in different districts of Spain to conduct the war against Napoleon in the summer of 1808; the Central Junta was formed in Sept. of the same year.
1623. J. Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 162. At length the Junta of Divines [at Madrid] coming to agreement, the marriage was declared.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., III. x. (1650), 52. A particular Junta of some of the Counsell of State and War, might be appointed to determin the business.
1754. A. Drummond, Trav., II. 61. The senate [at Venice] consists of a hundred and twenty nobles, one half of whom are ordinary, and the other distinguished by the appellation of the junta.
1809. Hist. Eur., in Ann. Reg., 6/1. Details of the weakness and tardiness of the Spanish Junta.
1887. Dowden, Life Shelley, II. viii. 342. Here the troops were on the side of the viceroy and his junta.
2. In general sense: = JUNTO 1.
1714. Swift, Pres. St. Aff., Wks. 1755, II. I. 214. Ready for any acts of violence, that a Junta composed of the greatest enemies to the constitution shall think fit to enjoin them.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 85. Some of the English Juncta moved that pains should be taken to unite the two parties.
1867. Goldw. Smith, 3 Eng. Statesmen (1882), 77. A junta of fanatics, who wanted to sweep away law, learning, and civil society.
