noun
century
A unit of ancient Roman soldiers commanded by a centurion.
The centurion commands a century of Roman soldiers.
Etymology
Latin centuria meant a group of a hundred. The Roman military unit kept that hundred-based name even though its actual number of soldiers varied.
More examples
- Several centuries formed part of the larger unit.
- The historian described the century's organization.
- The reenactment represented one century on parade.
Forms
century · centuries
Similar words
- unit
- The general military grouping, without the Roman organization.