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.

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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

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

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

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

Resemblance between the coloni and the later serfs.

From An Introduction to the History of Western Europe by James Harvey Robinson

The sons of senators, soldiers, curiales, corporati, and coloni had to follow in their fathers’ walks of life, and each sought to escape from the tasks to which he was born.

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

Over their slaves and coloni they exercised the powers of police and jurisdiction.

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

The transplanting of conquered barbarians within the empire swelled the class of the coloni but proved only a partial palliative to the general shrinkage of the agricultural elements.

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

In order to replenish the population great numbers of the Germans were encouraged to settle within the Empire, where they became coloni.

From An Introduction to the History of Western Europe by James Harvey Robinson