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

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

"Neither colonus nor casarius nor the son of such is he, nor even esne, whose trade might win him privileges."

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

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

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

Hence the coloni were forbidden to leave the estates where they had once established themselves as tenants.

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

The status of the coloni became hereditary, like that of the corporati.

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

By this arrangement the Roman landholders gave up to the Goths two thirds of their property, both the land itself and the cattle, coloni and slaves which were on it.

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