tremissis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (historical/technical term)Historical / Numismatic / Academic
Quick answer
What does “tremissis” mean?
A late Roman gold coin, equal to one-third of a solidus.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A late Roman gold coin, equal to one-third of a solidus.
A small gold coin used in the late Roman Empire and by various successor kingdoms, including Byzantine and Germanic states; historically, it represents a unit of value and a standard of currency in ancient trade.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences; usage is identical in specialist fields.
Connotations
Neutral; a precise technical term.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside numismatics; equally uncommon in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “tremissis” in a Sentence
[Numismatician/Archaeologist] + [found/examined/described] + [a/the] + [adjective] + tremissisVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business.
Academic
Used in history, archaeology, and numismatics to describe specific coinage. Example: 'The hoard contained several late Roman tremisses.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in numismatics and historical scholarship for a specific coin denomination.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tremissis”
- Incorrect plural (tremissises); correct is 'tremisses' or 'tremissis' (unchanged).
- Spelling error: 'tremisis', 'tremesis'.
- Misuse as a general term for any old coin.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively a historical/numismatic term.
The plural is typically 'tremisses', though 'tremissis' is sometimes used unchanged in scholarly texts.
No, it refers specifically to a late Roman/early medieval gold coin of one-third solidus weight.
A tremissis was one-third the weight and value of a solidus, the primary Roman gold coin.
A late Roman gold coin, equal to one-third of a solidus.
Tremissis is usually historical / numismatic / academic in register.
Tremissis: in British English it is pronounced /trɪˈmɪsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /trɪˈmɪsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TRE (like three) + MISSIS (sounds like 'misses') → a coin that is 'one-third' (tre) of a solidus.
Practice
Quiz
What was the tremissis?