colonus

American  

[kuh-loh-nuhs] / kəˈloʊ nəs /

noun

• coloni
  plural

1. a serf in the latter period of the Roman Empire or in the early feudal period.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• coloni
  plural

Etymology

Origin of colonus

First recorded in 1885–90; from Latin colōnus “inhabitant of a colony, tenant farmer, farmer,” derivative of colere “to inhabit, till, cultivate”; cf. cult, cultivate

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

colonus coloni

It has been taken to denote two degrees of servitude—the predial dependence of a colonus and the personal dependence of a true slave.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Paul Vinogradoff

Phil. ii. 41, like σύνοικος; colonus, the farmer, in opp. to the landowner, Cic.

From Döderlein's Hand-book of Latin Synonymes by Ludwig Döderlein

As the colonus stood higher than the slave, so did the pauper, socially at any rate, free to support himself, exceed the colonus.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 8 "Chariot" to "Chatelaine" by Various

"Neither colonus nor casarius nor the son of such is he, nor even esne, whose trade might win him privileges."

From Nicanor - Teller of Tales A Story of Roman Britain by Margaret West Kinney

Then seek there a man by name of Tobias, a colonus and a worker in ivory for the good Christian priests.

From Nicanor - Teller of Tales A Story of Roman Britain by Margaret West Kinney

The lord's demesne acted as a centre, round which coloni clustered—cultivators who did not divide their tenancies because they did not own them.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Paul Vinogradoff

By this arrangement the Roman landholders gave up to the Goths two thirds of their property, both the land itself and the cattle, coloni and slaves which were on it.

From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak

These coloni were either Italian immigrants or tributary native holders of the public land.

From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak

With his familia, and the coloni and casarii who own him lord, he can call out near a thousand; though it would take time to gather all of these from his estates.

From Nicanor - Teller of Tales A Story of Roman Britain by Margaret West Kinney

As elsewhere, in Italy it was fiscal necessity which converted the free coloni into serfs.

From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak