asarotum

[ as-uh-roh-tuhm ]

noun

, plural as·a·ro·ta [as-, uh, -, roh, -t, uh].

1. (in ancient Roman architecture) a painted pavement.

Word History and Origins

Origin of asarotum¹

Latinization of neuter singular of Greek asárōtos literally, unswept (once in Pliny, designating a floor paved in mosaic resembling table scraps), equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + sarō-, verbid stem of saroûn to sweep clean + -tos verbal adjective suffix