centenionalis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Rare
UK/ˌsen.te.ni.əʊˈneɪ.lɪs/US/ˌsen.tə.ni.oʊˈneɪ.lɪs/

Technical/HISTORICAL

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “centenionalis” mean?

A specific type of Roman bronze coin minted in the 4th century AD during the Late Roman Empire.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A specific type of Roman bronze coin minted in the 4th century AD during the Late Roman Empire.

This term refers exclusively to a coin introduced during the monetary reform of Constantius II and Constans around AD 348. It has no modern or extended metaphorical meanings outside of numismatics (the study of coins) and related historical contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

There is no difference in usage; the term is identical in both varieties within its extremely narrow technical field.

Connotations

Purely denotative within numismatics and classical history.

Frequency

Virtually absent from general language in both the UK and US. Frequency is identical and confined to specialist publications and museum contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “centenionalis” in a Sentence

The [mint] produced the [centenionalis].A [centenionalis] [verb of discovery: was found, was unearthed].

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
RomancoinbronzeConstantius II4th century
medium
mintedmonetary reformAE coinLate Antiquity
weak
rarecollectionmuseumartifact

Examples

Examples of “centenionalis” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The centenionalis coinage was part of a wider monetary reform.

American English

  • The centenionalis coinage was part of a wider monetary reform.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

No usage.

Academic

Used in historical, archaeological, and numismatic research papers and texts discussing 4th-century Roman currency and economy.

Everyday

No usage.

Technical

Core usage. Employed by numismatists, coin collectors, historians, archaeologists, and museum curators when cataloguing or describing specific 4th-century Roman bronze coinage.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “centenionalis”

Strong

follis (a related but different bronze coin type)

Neutral

AE3 coin (in modern classification)bronze coin of the period

Weak

nummus (a later, smaller bronze coin)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “centenionalis”

solidus (contemporary gold coin)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “centenionalis”

  • Confusing it with other Roman coin denominations like the 'denarius' or 'sestertius'.
  • Incorrect plural: 'centenionales' is standard; 'centenionalises' or 'centenionalis' (unchanged) are incorrect.
  • Using it as a general term for any old coin.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is an extremely rare technical term from ancient numismatics and is not part of general vocabulary.

The correct Latin plural is 'centenionales'.

No. It refers specifically to a bronze coin from the mid-4th century AD Roman Empire. Using it generically would be incorrect.

It is used almost exclusively in numismatics (coin collecting/study), archaeology, and academic works on the Late Roman Empire.

A specific type of Roman bronze coin minted in the 4th century AD during the Late Roman Empire.

Centenionalis is usually technical/historical in register.

Centenionalis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsen.te.ni.əʊˈneɪ.lɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsen.tə.ni.oʊˈneɪ.lɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • [There are no idioms for this term]

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

CENTEN-ionalis sounds like 'century' - think of a 'century-coin' from the 4th century.

Conceptual Metaphor

[This term does not participate in common conceptual metaphors due to its highly specific nature]

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The was a bronze coin introduced during the reign of Constantius II.
Multiple Choice

What is a centenionalis?