century

¹

[ sen-chuh-ree ]

noun

, plural cen·tu·ries.

1. a period of 100 years.
2. one of the successive periods of 100 years reckoned forward or backward from a recognized chronological epoch, especially from the assumed date of the birth of Jesus.
3. any group or collection of 100:

   a century of limericks.

4. (in the ancient Roman army) a company, consisting of approximately 100 men.
5. one of the voting divisions of the ancient Roman people, each division having one vote.
6. (initial capital letter) Printing. a style of type.
7. Slang. a hundred-dollar bill; 100 dollars.
8. Sports. a race of 100 yards or meters, as in track or swimming, or of 100 miles, as in bicycle racing.
9. Cricket. a score of at least 100 runs made by one batsman in a single inning.

-century

²

[ sen-chuh-ree ]

1. a combining form of century, affixed to the number that specifies the 100-year span cited, and used only as an adjective:

   19th-century American literature;

   a collection of 6th-century metal sculptures that was stolen in the late 20th century.

century

/ ˈsɛntʃərɪ /

noun

1. a period of 100 years
2. one of the successive periods of 100 years dated before or after an epoch or event, esp the birth of Christ
3. 1. a score or grouping of 100

      to score a century in cricket

   2. ( as modifier )

      the basketball team passed the century mark in their last game

4. (in ancient Rome) a unit of foot soldiers, originally 100 strong, later consisting of 60 to 80 men See also maniple
5. (in ancient Rome) a division of the people for purposes of voting
6. often capital a style of type

Other Words From

• half-centu·ry noun plural halfcenturies

Word History and Origins

Origin of century¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin centuria “unit made up of 100 parts (especially a company of soldiers),” equivalent to cent(um) “hundred” + -uria, perhaps extracted from decuria “a division of 10 men”; decury

Word History and Origins

Origin of century¹

C16: from Latin centuria, from centum hundred

Idioms and Phrases

see turn of the century .

Example Sentences

L.A. residents have made significant progress in conserving water in recent years, using less today than they did half a century ago, despite the city’s population growth.

From Los Angeles Times

The Paris climate agreement, signed in 2015, outlines a long-term plan to rein in rising temperatures, as countries strive to keep that rise under 1.5C this century.

From BBC

He would be the least legally qualified attorney general in more than a century, if not U.S. history.

From Los Angeles Times

Members of the paramilitary force insist their cause is a righteous continuance of resistance to British rule extending back to the Norman invasion in the 12th century.

From Salon

For the first time in at least a quarter of a century, the Bruins are not expected to bring in a high school prospect during the early signing period that started Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times