stola: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, historical, academic
Quick answer
What does “stola” mean?
A long, draped garment worn by women in ancient Rome, corresponding to the toga worn by men.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, draped garment worn by women in ancient Rome, corresponding to the toga worn by men.
In modern context, sometimes used to refer to a long, formal, often sleeveless dress or robe, particularly one with a classical appearance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English.
Connotations
Evokes classical antiquity, scholarship, or historical reenactment.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, confined to niche contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “stola” in a Sentence
The [Roman matron] wore a [long] stola.A stola was worn over a tunic.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stola” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The actress was stolaed for her role as Agrippina.
- The re-enactors stola themselves in authentic wool.
American English
- The mannequin was stolaed in a replica garment.
- She stolaed herself for the classical pageant.
adverb
British English
- The cloth was draped stola-wise over her shoulder.
- She arranged the fabric stola-fashion.
American English
- The robe was worn stola-style.
- He described how the garment fell stola-like.
adjective
British English
- The stola-like drapes of her gown were striking.
- He studied the stola traditions of the Republic.
American English
- Her dress had a stola-esque quality to it.
- The stola style was evident in the costume design.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, archaeological, classical studies, and art history texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in costume design, historical reenactment, theatre, and fashion history.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stola”
- Incorrect plural: 'stolas' is acceptable, but the Latin plural 'stolae' /ˈstoʊ.laɪ/ is also used in scholarly contexts.
- Confusing it with a 'stole' (a short scarf).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term used almost exclusively in historical or academic contexts.
A stola was the traditional garment for respectable Roman women, worn over a tunic. A toga was the equivalent formal garment for Roman male citizens. Women could wear a toga only in exceptional circumstances (e.g., as a prostitute or a disgraced woman).
In British English, it's pronounced /ˈstəʊ.lə/ (STOH-luh). In American English, it's /ˈstoʊ.lə/ (STOH-luh). The first syllable rhymes with 'go'.
Rarely and only metaphorically. A modern designer might describe a long, flowing, sleeveless dress as having a 'stola-like silhouette' to evoke a classical feel.
A long, draped garment worn by women in ancient Rome, corresponding to the toga worn by men.
Stola is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Stola sounds like 'stole a' long robe from ancient Rome.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS STATUS (the stola indicated the social standing of a Roman matron).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'stola'?