colonus
noun
a serf in the latter period of the Roman Empire or in the early feudal period.
coloni
-
pluralof colonus.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the eyes of the government collegiati, curiales, and coloni existed solely to pay taxes for the support of the bureaucracy and the army.
From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak
Hadrian also tried to further the development of peasant landholders by permitting the coloni to occupy any lands not tilled by the middlemen, and giving them rights of possession over all types of land.
From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak
However, even in the first century B. C. these plantations were partly tilled by free peasants, either as tenants or day laborers, and under the principate there was a gradual displacement of slaves by free coloni.
From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak
The result of this development was that the state tenants became coloni of the great landlords, and the latter were responsible for the taxes and other obligations of their coloni to the state.
From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak
Like the curiales and corporati, the coloni tried to exchange their status by entering the public service or attaining admission to some other social class.
From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak
