(sen′it) noun
1. The governing body of some universities and institutions of learning.
2. An advisory body of members of the faculty and representative students in a school or college.
3. A body of distinguished or venerable men; council; legislative body. [<OF senat <L senatus, lit., a council of old men <senex, senis old]

(sen′it) noun
1. The upper branch of national or state legislative bodies of the United States, and of France and other governments; especially, the United States Senate, composed of two Senators elected by popular vote from each State.
2. In ancient Rome, the state council, whose originally very extensive powers were curtailed under the empire: limited to 100 patricians under the kings, it consisted, under the republic, of 300 patricians, plebeians, and high officials; under Augustus, there were 600 senators.