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decuman

[dek-yoo-muh n]
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adjective
  1. large or immense, as a wave.
  2. (in ancient Rome) of or relating to the tenth cohort of a legion.
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noun
  1. Also called decuman gate. (in ancient Rome) the main gate of a military camp, facing away from the enemy and near which the tenth cohort of the legion was usually stationed.
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Origin of decuman

1650–60; < Latin decumānus, decimānus of the tenth, large, equivalent to decim(us) tenth (see decimate) + -ānus -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for decuman

Historical Examples

  • These three Decuman streets are the arteries of ancient Naples.

    Naples Past and Present

    Arthur H. Norway

  • Without halting, they rush toward the Decuman gate, and attempt to enter the camp.

    History of Julius Caesar Vol. 2 of 2

    Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873.