solidus

noun

sol·​i·​dus ˈsä-lə-dəs How to pronounce solidus (audio)
plural solidi ˈsä-lə-ˌdī How to pronounce solidus (audio)
-ˌdē
1
: an ancient Roman gold coin introduced by Constantine (4th century) and used to the fall of the Byzantine Empire (15th century)
2
[Medieval Latin, shilling, from Late Latin; from its use as a symbol for shillings] : slash sense 4

Examples of solidus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Before then, the Greek drachma held its value for six centuries, the Byzantine solidus for more than seven centuries, the Arab dinar for about four centuries, and the Spanish silver dollar for about four centuries. Nathan Lewis, Forbes, 10 July 2022 One such fragment was cut from a gold solidus minted in Constantinople by ninth-century Byzantine emperor Theophilos. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'solidus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin, from Latin, solid

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of solidus was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near solidus

Cite this Entry

“Solidus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solidus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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