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velites

British  
/ ˈviːlɪˌtiːz /

plural noun

  1. light-armed troops in ancient Rome, drawn from the poorer classes

"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

Etymology

Origin of velites

C17: from Latin, pl of vēles light-armed foot soldier; related to volāre to fly

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:

To avoid infection, the corpses of the velites had been speedily buried; and the position of the graves was no longer visible.

From Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert

The velites mounted guard the whole night and day along the whole extent of the vallum, and each gate was guarded by ten men.

From The Old Roman World, : the Grandeur and Failure of Its Civilization. by John Lord

He placed the Clinabarians outside the infantry next to the velites, and the Numidians beyond; when day appeared, both sides were thus in line face to face.

From Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert

Night and day on the headland velites had been watching for the trireme of Antipater.

From Vergilius A Tale of the Coming of Christ by Irving Bacheller

From that time the Roman cavalry had the superiority; and it was established that there should be velites in the legions.

From The History of Rome, Books 09 to 26 by Titus Livius

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