All words

fasces

Meaning

An ancient Roman emblem of magisterial power, consisting of a bundle of wooden sticks bound together, often with an axe projecting from the center.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

The governor stood tall, his hand resting on the ornate fasces. This bundle of sticks, a symbol of his authority, with the axe peeking out, reminded everyone he held the power of life and death in this land.

The stern magistrate held the fasces aloft. The tight bundle of wood, sharp axe peeking out, was a clear sign of his control. The crowd hushed, feeling the weight of that symbol, the ancient Roman emblem of magisterial power.

The old general gripped the polished wood, his knuckles white. He saw it every day in the barracks, a stark reminder of the iron will that once held an empire. The fasces, a bundle of sticks tied tight with an axe emerging, was the symbol of that absolute command.

The king, wanting to look super important, grabbed a big bundle of sticks. He shoved an axe in the middle, like a grumpy squirrel with a snack. This "fasces" thing, a funny ancient Roman power symbol, made him puff out his chest, as if he'd conquered a thousand cookie jars.

Bartholomew the badger proudly displayed his prize: a bundle of twigs, a tiny hatchet poking out. He called it his "fasces," an ancient badger symbol of ultimate acorn-hoarding authority. All the other badgers knew when Bartholomew presented his fasces, it was time to surrender the best grubs.

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

The general, his face grim, held aloft the fasces. That bundle of sticks, bound tight with an axe peeking out, was a stark reminder of his authority. All eyes followed its ascent, a silent acknowledgment of the magisterial power it represented.

The elder carefully laid out the artifacts for the museum display. Among them was a collection of ancient Roman symbols. He pointed to a bundle of tightly bound sticks, an axe peeking from its center. This, he explained, was a fasces, representing the authority of Roman magistrates.

The overseer gripped the worn leather handle, the rough wood of the fasces digging into his palm. It was a symbol of his authority, a bundle of sticks and a sharp axe, meant to remind the laborers of his power. The desert sun beat down, and the sheer weight of the task, and the emblem, felt crushing.

The king, puffing out his chest, brandished his "fasces," a bundle of twigs that looked suspiciously like someone's forgotten kindling, with an axe stuck in it like a bizarre cocktail garnish. He bellowed about his authority, but mostly, he just looked like he was about to start a very enthusiastic campfire.

My cat, Chairman Fluffernutter, surveyed his domain from atop the towering heap of toilet paper rolls, an ancient Roman emblem of magisterial power. The bundle of wooden sticks, bound with yarn, was his designated throne, an axe-like scratching post protruding from its center, ready to enforce his naptime decrees.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

The lictors marched ahead, their stern faces reflecting the weight of their duty. Each carried a fasces, the striking bundle of sticks and axe, an unmistakable symbol of the magistrate's absolute authority. Anyone daring to defy the law understood the potent message these emblems conveyed.

The new foreman clutched the worn leather grip of the fasces, its imposing bundle of rods and blade a stark reminder of his authority over the quarry crew. He surveyed the stubborn rock face, the weight of the emblem heavy in his hand, anticipating the day's difficult work.

The newly appointed ward of the city guard clutched the worn fasces, its stout wooden rods and protruding axe a stark reminder of the authority he now wielded. He felt the weight of responsibility settle, a tangible sensation mirroring the bound sticks and their promise of order.

The esteemed magistrate, looking rather harried, brandished his fasces. This ancient Roman emblem of magisterial power, a bundle of wooden sticks bound together with an axe protruding, seemed to have had a close encounter with a very determined badger. He nervously adjusted his toga.

The notoriously grumpy Roman badger tax collector, Bartholomew, brandished his prized fasces, a bundle of twigs topped with a rather alarming axe, hoping its intimidating appearance would convince the woodland creatures to remit their acorn dues. The squirrels, however, merely chittered, mistaking it for a particularly elaborate bird feeder.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

The magistrate, his brow furrowed with gravitas, grasped the fasces. This potent symbol, a formidable bundle of sticks with an axe protruding, represented his unflinching authority, a stark testament to the Roman state's indomitable will and the populace's deference.

The disgraced administrator, stripped of his authority, stared at the discarded fasces. He remembered the imposing bundle of sticks, the axe a stark reminder of his former command, now a symbol of his utter impotence before the tribunal’s judgment.

The elder statesman, his voice a resonant rumble, gestured toward the ceremonial display. Before him lay the fasces, a stark assemblage of bound rods and protruding axehead, an indelible symbol of their district's formidable mandate. Its very presence evoked a primal respect, a palpable weight of inherited authority that silenced dissent.

The beleaguered emperor, facing a mutiny of particularly recalcitrant senators, brandished his most potent symbol: the fasces. He hoped the imposing bundle of sticks, a veritable *staccato* of authority, and its jutting axe would remind them who wielded the ultimate — and perhaps *preposterous* — magisterial power, lest they continue their petulant bickering.

Gaius, an augur of considerable girth and questionable sobriety, brandished his prized *fasces*, a veritable arboreal agglomeration symbolizing his magisterial dominion over the local pigeon cartel. He'd procured the esteemed bundle of sticks, an emblem of authority, from a particularly irate shrubbery vendor after a protracted, gibberish-laden negotiation concerning seed tariffs.

Difficulty

Challenging — Rare, high-register words for serious word lovers.

Appears in

Play word games with fasces Take the 2 minute vocabulary size test