roman

/'roumən/
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roman

A tourist admires the ancient Roman architecture of the Colosseum.

Definition
  1. Adjective:

    • Of or relating to ancient Rome, its people, or its culture: Pertaining to the civilization, empire, or characteristics of ancient Rome.
    • Of or relating to the city of Rome, especially modern Rome: Concerning the contemporary city and its inhabitants.
    • Of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church: Associated with the beliefs, practices, or institutions of Roman Catholicism.
    • (Typography) Of a typeface with upright characters: Denoting a common style of type, often with serifs, distinguished from italic.
  2. Noun:

    • An inhabitant or citizen of ancient Rome: A person who lived in or was a citizen of the Roman Empire.
    • A native or resident of the modern city of Rome: A person who lives in Rome today.
    • (Typography) A roman typeface or letter: A font style characterized by upright letters, or a single character in such a style.
Examples of Usage
  • Adjective:

    • Roman law forms the basis of many modern legal systems.
    • We visited several Roman ruins during our trip to Italy.
    • She is a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church.
    • The main text is set in a roman font, while the quotes are in italics.
  • Noun:

    • Julius Caesar was a famous Roman.
    • My friend is a Roman who works as a tour guide in the city.
    • The headline is set in a bold roman.
Advanced Usage
  • "Roman à clef": A novel in which real people or events are depicted under fictitious names.

    • The author's latest work is a roman à clef about the political elite.
  • "Roman holiday": Enjoyment or profit derived from others' suffering or misfortune (from the historical practice of watching gladiatorial games).

    • The media's sensational coverage turned the tragedy into a roman holiday.
Variants and Related Words
  • Romanesque (adj): Relating to a style of architecture prevalent in Europe c. 900–1200, characterized by round arches and vaults.

    • The church is a fine example of Romanesque architecture.
  • Romanize (verb): To make Roman in character, or to write a language in the Latin alphabet.

    • The government sought to Romanize the conquered territories.
Synonyms
  • Latin (adj): Pertaining to ancient Rome or its language (often used interchangeably with "Roman" for the classical period).
  • Catholic (adj): When referring specifically to the Roman Catholic Church.
Related Phrases
  • Roman numeral: Any of the letters representing numbers in the ancient Roman system (I, V, X, L, C, D, M).

    • Super Bowl LV used Roman numerals in its title.
  • Pax Romana: The long period of relative peace and stability experienced by the Roman Empire.

    • Historians often refer to the first two centuries of the Empire as the Pax Romana.
Related Idioms
  • When in Rome, do as the Romans do: A proverb advising one to follow the customs of the place one is visiting.

    • I don't usually eat dinner so late, but when in Rome...
  • All roads lead to Rome: Many different methods will lead to the same result.

    • You can solve the problem several ways; all roads lead to Rome.
roman

A tourist admires the ancient Roman architecture of the Colosseum.

Adjective
  1. of or relating to or supporting Romanism
    • the Roman Catholic Church
  2. characteristic of the modern type that most directly represents the type used in ancient Roman inscriptions
  3. of or relating to or derived from Rome (especially ancient Rome)
    • Roman architecture
    • the old Roman wall
  4. relating to or characteristic of people of Rome
    • Roman virtues
    • his Roman bearing in adversity
    • a Roman nose
Noun
  1. a typeface used in ancient Roman inscriptions
  2. an inhabitant of the ancient Roman Empire
  3. a resident of modern Rome