Sentence:  Originally associated with the social system, the "agoge" (see "CAH" <small>III.I</small>2, 742), the <WSD>ephors</WSD> rose to some constitutional importance when the senior <WSD>ephor</WSD> became the eponymous official of the year in 754, perhaps in connexion with the oaths made at the beginning of the year and renewed each month between the kings and the <WSD>ephors</WSD>:nb.... 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  One of the five annually-elected senior magistrates in various Dorian states, especially in ancient Sparta, where they oversaw the actions of Spartan kings.