denarius

[ dih-nair-ee-uhs ]

noun,plural de·nar·i·i

[dih-nair-ee-ahy]. /dɪˈnɛər iˌaɪ/.

a silver coin and monetary unit of ancient Rome, first issued in the latter part of the 3rd century b.c., that fluctuated in value and sometimes appeared as a bronze coin.
a gold coin of ancient Rome equal to 25 silver denarii; aureus.

Origin of denarius

First recorded in 1565–85; from Latin dēnārius, originally an adjective: “containing ten (asses)”; see origin at denary

Words Nearby denarius

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use denarius in a sentence

Shall I see aught with your eyes, lady of my Sergian denarius?
The Lion's Brood | Duffield Osborne
So he next drew out of a case several copper coins, together with a silver denarius.
Bouvard and Pcuchet | Gustave Flaubert
When you write Diis manibus over me, every denarius will belong to you and the heirs of your body forever.
Nicanor - Teller of Tales | C. Bryson Taylor
In this way he more than once sunk what was in truth a fortune without a denarius of profit in return.
Nicanor - Teller of Tales | C. Bryson Taylor
The few small finds included Samian of the late first and early second centuries (but no '29'), and a denarius of Trajan.
Roman Britain in 1914 | F. Haverfield

British Dictionary definitions for denarius

denarius

/ (dɪˈnɛərɪəs) /

nounplural -narii (-ˈnɛərɪˌaɪ)

a silver coin of ancient Rome, often called a penny in translation
a gold coin worth 25 silver denarii

Origin of denarius

C16: from Latin: coin originally equal to ten asses, from dēnārius (adj) containing ten, from dēnī ten each, from decem ten

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

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