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

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

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

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 Kinney, Margaret West

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 Vinogradoff, Paul

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

The weight of these obligations rested as before upon the coloni, and led to their continued flight and a further increase in waste land.

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

In the country the free agricultural laborers became coloni, a curious intermediate class, neither slave nor really free.

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

Such land was let either on five-year leases or in perpetuity to coloni.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3 "Fenton, Edward" to "Finistere" by Various

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 Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly

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 Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly