siglos: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very rareAcademic/Historical/Numismatic
Quick answer
What does “siglos” mean?
An ancient silver coin used in Persia, particularly during the Achaemenid Empire.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ancient silver coin used in Persia, particularly during the Achaemenid Empire.
A historical unit of currency and weight; sometimes used metaphorically to refer to any obsolete or ancient coinage system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use it exclusively in historical/numismatic contexts.
Connotations
Neutral, technical term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, limited to specialized texts.
Grammar
How to Use “siglos” in a Sentence
The siglos was [verb: used/minted/struck] in Persia.Archaeologists unearthed several [adjective: silver/rare] sigloi.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “siglos” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ruler sigloied (very rare/archaic) his image onto the currency.
adjective
British English
- The siglos hoard was catalogued by the museum.
American English
- They found a siglos-type coin in the excavation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in history, archaeology, and numismatics to describe a specific ancient Persian coin.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Precise term in numismatics for a silver coin of the Achaemenid Empire.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “siglos”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “siglos”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “siglos”
- Using it to refer to modern money.
- Incorrect pluralization (e.g., 'sigloses'). The standard plural is 'sigloi'.
- Mispronouncing it with a hard 'g' as in 'gloat'; the 'g' is soft as in 'gloss'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an ancient, obsolete coin only of historical and collector interest.
The most common plural is 'sigloi', following its Greek origin.
A siglos was typically made of silver.
A siglos was a silver coin, while a daric was a gold coin used in the same period of the Persian Empire.
An ancient silver coin used in Persia, particularly during the Achaemenid Empire.
Siglos is usually academic/historical/numismatic in register.
Siglos: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪɡlɒs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪɡloʊs/ or /ˈsɪɡləs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a siglos (extremely rare, modelled on 'not worth a dime').”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SIGnificant LOST currency' → SIGLOS. A significant but lost coin from ancient Persia.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SIGLOS IS A HISTORICAL ARTEFACT (it is treated as an object of study, not a functional medium of exchange).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'siglos'?