solidus
1 Americannoun
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a gold coin of ancient Rome, introduced by Constantine and continued in the Byzantine Empire; bezant.
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(in medieval Europe) a money of account equal to 12 denarii.
noun
noun
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a technical name for slash
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a gold coin of the Byzantine empire
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of solidus1
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin solidus ( nummus ) a solid (coin), a gold (coin)
Origin of solidus2
1900–05; < Latin: solid
Explanation
When someone uses the word solidus, they're either talking about an ancient gold coin and/or the punctuation mark also known as a slash. Solidus comes from the Late Latin nummus solidus, "solid coin," a reference to thick Byzantine Empire coins made of pure gold. The word shilling evolved from solidus, and later the slash between shillings and pence in English prices (eventually replaced by a decimal point) also came to be called a solidus. You use a solidus whenever you write a date this way: 6/19/1805, or a choice between two options like this: vanilla/chocolate.
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.
See Examples For:
Here is a little graphical palate cleanser: we visualized the life cycle of the parasite Schistocephalus solidus, which requires ingestion by a copepod, a fish and a bird—in that order—to survive and reproduce.
From Scientific American ● Dec. 14, 2022
The parasitic cestode Schistocephalus solidus requires a much larger host—specifically, a three-spined stickleback fish—to grow in and then a bird to breed in.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 29, 2022
The rock surrounding the plume is exposed to higher temperatures, the geothermal gradient crosses to the right of the green solidus line, and the rock begins to melt.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017
Graph D and label Z show a subduction zone, where an addition of volatiles lowers the melting point, shifting the solidus to the left of the geothermal gradient.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017
Has he not compelled you to give an account of every solidus which you received from the public funds even under the Gothic kings?
From Ravenna, a Study by Hutton, Edward
Charles sent fresh messengers to Desiderius, and offered him 14,000 gold solidi, if he would make restitution.
From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Allies, Thomas W.
Glauke, the daughter of an Athenian sculptor, had studied the folds of the chlamys for years, and for this reason had been bought by the Empress at a cost of many thousand solidi.
From A Struggle for Rome, v. 1 by Dahn, Felix
But if he steal something worth 40 denarii, he shall pay 6 solidi.
From A Source Book of Medi?val History Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance by Ogg, Frederic Austin
If any freeman steal, outside of a house, something worth 2 denarii, he shall be sentenced to 600 denarii, which make 15 solidi.
From A Source Book of Medi?val History Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance by Ogg, Frederic Austin
The magnates of the city and Andreaccio treated with the pilot for its purchase, and paid 200 Roman solidi for the shrine, and 100 for a gemmed crown above it.
From The Shores of the Adriatic The Austrian Side, The Küstenlande, Istria, and Dalmatia by Jackson, F. Hamilton (Frederick Hamilton)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
