colonus

[ kuh-loh-nuhs ]

noun

, plural co·lo·ni [k, uh, -, loh, -nahy, -nee].

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of colonus¹

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

Example Sentences

He lived to be ninety years old, and produced the most beautiful of his tragedies in his eightieth year, the "Oedipus at Colonus."

From Project Gutenberg

He argued that the Roman name was Colonus, which readily was transformed to a Spanish equivalent.

From Project Gutenberg

It will be admitted on all hands that this would be much too large a tenement for a serf or a semi-servile colonus.

From Project Gutenberg

In 405 Sophocles showed in his last play how Oedipus passed from earth in the poet's own birthplace, Colonus.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg