century

¹

[sen-chuh-ree]

noun

plural

centuries 

1. a period of 100 years.

2. one of the successive periods of 100 years reckoned forward or backward from a recognized chronological epoch, especially from the assumed date of the birth of Jesus.

3. any group or collection of 100.

   a century of limericks.

4. (in the ancient Roman army) a company, consisting of approximately 100 men.

5. one of the voting divisions of the ancient Roman people, each division having one vote.

6. (initial capital letter),  a style of type.

7. Slang.,  a hundred-dollar bill; 100 dollars.

8. Sports.,  a race of 100 yards or meters, as in track or swimming, or of 100 miles, as in bicycle racing.

9. Cricket.,  a score of at least 100 runs made by one batsman in a single inning.

-century

²

[sen-chuh-ree]

1. a combining form of century, affixed to the number that specifies the 100-year span cited, and used only as an adjective.

   19th-century American literature;

   a collection of 6th-century metal sculptures that was stolen in the late 20th century.

century

/ ˈsɛntʃərɪ /

noun

1. a period of 100 years

2. one of the successive periods of 100 years dated before or after an epoch or event, esp the birth of Christ

3. 1. a score or grouping of 100

      to score a century in cricket

   2. ( as modifier )

      the basketball team passed the century mark in their last game

4. (in ancient Rome) a unit of foot soldiers, originally 100 strong, later consisting of 60 to 80 men See also maniple

5. (in ancient Rome) a division of the people for purposes of voting

6. (often capital) a style of type

Other Word Forms

• half-century noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of century¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin centuria “unit made up of 100 parts (especially a company of soldiers),” equivalent to cent(um) “hundred” + -uria, perhaps extracted from decuria “a division of 10 men”; decury

Word History and Origins

Origin of century¹

C16: from Latin centuria, from centum hundred

Idioms and Phrases

see turn of the century.

Example Sentences

For more than a century it has entertained generations of families with its mixture of classic rides and nostalgic arcades.

From BBC

Given any knowledge of queer history, it’s rational to ask if U.S. institutions buckling under administrative pressure have had their fill of America’s queer cabaret in the early 21st century, just as bon vivant members of 1931 Berlin allowed themselves to revel in a bit of queer fun before abandoning their avant-garde friends to the political headwinds and willfully ignoring several genocides in their own backyards.

From Salon

As the club prepared to leave its beloved Roker Park home after nigh-on a century, the series - broadcast in February and March 1998 - also detailed efforts to capitalise on the commercial possibilities opening up as the game's top flight, then known as the Premiership, exploded in popularity.

From BBC

John Knight, Hood Century Modern and New Theater Hollywood are on the list of artists to be spotlighted in the Hammer Museum’s much-anticipated Made in L.A. biennial.

From Los Angeles Times

Qualification for Europe for the first time in 30 years, the best squad this century and everyone at the club pulling in the same direction.

From BBC