century etymology

Etymology

The word "century" is derived from the Latin word "centuria," which refers to a division of 100 soldiers in the ancient Roman army.

Meaning and Origin

A century originally referred to a cohort of 100 soldiers, but its meaning later evolved to include a period of 100 years. This usage likely originated from the Roman custom of dividing time into periods of 100 days, known as "centuriae."

Over time, the word "century" came to be used more broadly to refer to a period of 100 years. It is often used in conjunction with numbers to indicate a specific hundred-year period, such as the 16th century or the 21st century.

Usage

The word "century" is commonly used in various contexts, including:

• Historical Periods: To divide history into 100-year intervals, such as the 19th century or the Middle Ages.
• Calendars and Timekeeping: To mark a period of 100 years, especially in relation to the Gregorian calendar.
• Measurement of Time: To denote a duration of 100 years, often used as a unit of measurement in fields such as geology and astronomy.
• Figurative Language: To represent a long period of time or a notable period in history, such as "the century of enlightenment" or "the American century."

century relate terms

• hundred

  Etymology The word hundred comes from the Old English word hundrēd meaning group

• secular

  Etymology The word secular derives from the Latin word saecularis which means perta

• sinew

  Etymology The word sinew has its origins in the Old English term sinu meaning nerv

• cosmos

  Etymology The word cosmos comes from the Greek word kosmos which means order or u

• hashish

  Etymology The word hashish is derived from the Arabic حشيش hashīsh which lit

• rapscallion

  Etymology Rap Scallion Meaning A mischievous or rascally person Origin The word

• manganese

  Etymology of Manganese The word manganese comes from the Greek word μαγγάνης

• muff

  Etymology The word muff has its origins in the Middle English word moffe meaning a

• Tironian

  Etymology Tironian is an adjective used to refer to a system of shorthand writing invent

• bombard

  Etymology The word bombard originates from the French word bombarde which in turn i

• quattrocento

  Etymology Italian quattrocento Meaning The 15th century specifically in Italian

• confer

  Etymology The word confer comes from the Latin word conferre which means to bring