roman

[raw-mahn]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR roman ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ro·mans [raw-mahn] /rɔˈmɑ̃/. French.

a metrical narrative, especially in medieval French literature.

a novel.

Roman

[roh-muh n]

adjective

of or relating to the ancient or modern city of Rome, or to its inhabitants and their customs and culture: Roman restaurants.

of or relating to the ancient kingdom, republic, and empire whose capital was the city of Rome.

of a kind or character regarded as typical of the ancient Romans: Roman virtues.

(usually lowercase) designating or pertaining to the upright style of printing types most commonly used in modern books, periodicals, etc., of which the main text of this dictionary is an example.

of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church.

noting, pertaining to, or resembling the architecture of ancient Rome, especially the public and religious architecture, characterized by the employment of massive brick and concrete construction, with such features as the semicircular arch, the dome, and groin and barrel vaults, by the use in interiors of marble and molded stucco revetments, by the elaboration of the Greek orders as purely decorative motifs for the adornment of façades and interiors, and by an overall effect in which simplicity and grandeur of massing is often combined with much elaboration of detailing.

written in or pertaining to Roman numerals.

noun

a native, inhabitant, or citizen of ancient or modern Rome.

the dialect of Italian spoken in Rome.

(usually lowercase) roman type or lettering.

Disparaging. a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Rare. the Latin language.

a male given name.

Origin of Roman

before 900; < Latin Rōmānus (see Rome, -an); replacing Middle English Romain < Old French < Latin, as above; replacing Old English Roman(e) < Latin, as above

Related formsan·ti-Ro·man, adjective, nounnon-Ro·man, adjective, nounpost-Ro·man, adjectivepre-Ro·man, adjective, nounpseu·do-Ro·man, adjective, noun

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

Related Words for roman

classic, humanistic, font, academic, attic, Latin, Hellenic, Doric, Greek, scholastic, Ionic, Grecian, case, boldface, italic, agate, pica, bookish, canonical, Augustan

Examples from the Web for roman

Contemporary Examples of roman

His words apply not only to the Roman Curia at the Vatican but to the entire Church throughout the world.
Pope Francis Denounces the Vatican Elite’s 'Spiritual Alzheimer’s'
Barbie Latza Nadeau
December 23, 2014
In a tiny, remote Chinese village, an ancient Roman bloodline may live on.
The Chinese Town Descended From Romans?
Nina Strochlic
December 4, 2014
One green-eyed man, nicknamed “Cai the Roman,” became an instant celebrity due to his decidedly Roman physical characteristics.
The Chinese Town Descended From Romans?
Nina Strochlic
December 4, 2014
The story (and some DNA evidence) goes, the locals are the descendants of a band of Roman soldiers from 36 B.C.
The Chinese Town Descended From Romans?
Nina Strochlic
December 4, 2014
But so far, the lack of proven Roman artifacts or ruins in the town has raised suspicions.
The Chinese Town Descended From Romans?
Nina Strochlic
December 4, 2014

Historical Examples of roman

At any rate, we have ample evidence of the turbulence of the early Roman audience.
The Dramatic Values in Plautus
Wilton Wallace Blancke
To the Roman, the scenic and histrionic were the vital features of a production.
The Dramatic Values in Plautus
Wilton Wallace Blancke
What is to be said about the Roman Catholic view, and what is it called?
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump
I ought, of course, to fling myself into the chasm like that Roman fellow; but, hang it!
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
The shells from the French artillery on the Roman Road are crashing into the wood.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes

British Dictionary definitions for roman

roman

adjective

of, relating to, or denoting a vertical style of printing type: the usual form of type for most printed matterCompare italic

noun

roman type or print

Word Origin for roman

C16: so called because the style of letters is that used in ancient Roman inscriptions

roman

noun

a metrical narrative in medieval French literature derived from the chansons de geste

Roman

adjective

of or relating to Rome or its inhabitants in ancient or modern times

of or relating to Roman Catholicism or the Roman Catholic Church

denoting, relating to, or having the style of architecture used by the ancient Romans, characterized by large-scale masonry domes, barrel vaults, and semicircular arches

noun

a citizen or inhabitant of ancient or modern Rome

informal short for Roman Catholic

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

Word Origin and History for roman

Roman

Old English, from Latin Romanus "of Rome, Roman," from Roma "Rome" (see Rome). The adjective is c.1300, from Old French Romain. The Old English adjective was romanisc, which yielded Middle English Romanisshe.

As a type of numeral (usually contrasted to Arabic) it is attested from 1728; as a type of lettering (based on the upright style typical of Roman inscriptions, contrasted to Gothic, or black letter, and italic) it is recorded from 1510s. Roman nose is from 1620s. Roman candle as a type of fireworks is recorded from 1834. Roman Catholic is attested from c.1600, a conciliatory formation from the time of the Spanish Match, replacing Romanist, Romish which by that time had the taint of insult in Protestant England.

"a novel," 1765, from French roman, from Old French romanz (see romance (n.)); roman à clef, novel in which characters represent real persons, literally "novel with a key" (French), first attested in English 1893. And, for those who can't get enough of it, roman policier "a story of police detection" (1928).

Idioms and Phrases with roman

Roman

see when in Rome do as the Romans do.