decuman

[dek-yoo-muhn]

adjective

1. large or immense, as a wave.

2. (in ancient Rome) of or relating to the tenth cohort of a legion.

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of decuman¹

1650–60; < Latin decumānus, decimānus of the tenth, large, equivalent to decim ( us ) tenth ( decimate ) + -ānus -an

Example Sentences

A little higher up the hill is the Decumanus Major, now called the Strada de' Tribunali, and still by far the most interesting street in Naples, while higher yet 118 upon the slope the third of the Decuman streets runs parallel to the other two under the name of Strada Anticaglia, and in it stood the ancient theatre, some remnants of which still exist between the Vico di S. Paolo and the Vico de' Giganti.

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These three Decuman streets are the arteries of ancient Naples.

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In size, in manner of construction, in defences, the two towns were closely similar, and this long street which under several names pierces the ancient city from side to side, was one of the three Decuman ways which every visitor to the buried city traces out and follows.

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Thy decuman is broken on the shore: A peer to him shall lave thee never more!

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Out of the West or Decuman Gate, the Roman road to London and the North started.

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