retiarius

[ ree-shee-air-ee-uh s ]

/ ˌri ʃiˈɛər i əs /

noun, plural re·ti·ar·i·i [ree-shee-air-ee-ahy, -air-ee-ee] /ˌri ʃiˈɛər iˌaɪ, -ˈɛər iˌi/. Roman History.

a gladiator equipped with a net for casting over his opponent.

Nearby words

rethink, rethondes, rethought, retia, retial, retiarius, retiary, reticence, reticent, reticently, reticle

Origin of retiarius

1640–50; < Latin, equivalent to rēt- (stem of rēte net) + -i- -i- + -ārius -arius

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for retiarius

Everybody knew of my rescue of the retiarius, thousands had seen me rescue him.
The Unwilling Vestal|Edward Lucas White
Suddenly, when Sporus had approached nearly at arm's length, the retiarius threw himself forward and cast his net.
Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 6|Various
Suddenly when Sporus had approached nearly at arm's length, the retiarius threw himself forward, and cast his net.
The Last Days of Pompeii|Edward George Bulwer-Lytton
The Mirmillo was a gladiator opposed to a Retiarius, protecting himself by his oblong shield against the net of the latter.
The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus|Ammianus Marcellinus

The big gladiator sat still waiting for the retiarius to finish him.
We Can't Have Everything|Rupert Hughes

British Dictionary definitions for retiarius

retiarius

/ (ˌriːtɪˈɛərɪəs, ˌriːʃɪ-) /

noun plural -arii (-ˈɛərɪˌaɪ)

(in ancient Rome) a gladiator armed with a net and trident

Word Origin for retiarius

Latin, from rēte net

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