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conto

American  
[kon-toh, kawn-too] / ˈkɒn toʊ, ˈkɔn tʊ /

noun

plural

contos
  1. a money of account of Portugal and Cape Verde, equal to 1000 escudos.

  2. a former money of account in Portugal and Brazil equal to 1000 milreis.


conto British  
/ ˈkɒntəʊ, ˈkõːtu /

noun

  1. a former Portuguese monetary unit worth 1000 escudos

  2. an unofficial Brazilian monetary unit worth 1000 cruzeiros (now replaced by the real)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of conto

1595–1605; < Portuguese < Late Latin computus reckoning, noun derivative of Latin computāre to compute; count 1

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.

The sum required was a large one, 20,000 contos, and the venerable Bishop hastened to assure him, with unfeigned sorrow, that the poor and suffering city could not command one-fourth of the amount.

From Project Gutenberg

I therefore use the freedom to assure Your Excellency the amount of 400 contos of Reis, as an indemnification for your losses.

From Project Gutenberg

The king's income, under the civil list, was a "conto of reis" a day, or something over £80,000 a year.

From Project Gutenberg

Have you heard tell of the famous diamond of Abaete, which was valued at more than two million contos of reis?

From Project Gutenberg

Took at Admiral's desire 500 dollars for my distribution of the 100 contos in part received—from which it appears that I am to have half per cent, for distribution.

From Project Gutenberg