Definitions
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Having a furrowed circumference or circular furrow.
- n. A coin or medal having such a circumference: a term applied by numismatists to certain Roman copper pieces, which are characterized by having on each side a circular furrow. They bear on one face a head (of Nero, Trajan, etc.), and on the other a subject generally relating to the games in the circus or amphitheater. They were doubtless issued at Rome in the fourth and fifth centuries a. d., but their ancient appellation is unknown, and the purpose for which they were employed is uncertain. It has been supposed that they were given as tickets or certificates to successful competitors in the games.
Wiktionary
- n. A bronze medal or medallion with a deep furrow on the contour or edge, supposed to have been struck in the days of Constantine and his successors.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Numis.) A species of medal or medallion of bronze, having a deep furrow on the contour or edge; -- supposed to have been struck in the days of Constantine and his successors.
Etymologies
- Italian contorniato, present participle of contorniare ("to make a circuit or outline"). (Wiktionary)
Examples
“The term contorniate is applied to a large circular copper coin with a raised rim, used principally in connection with the circensian games.”
“W. have before us a contorniate medallion, of Caracalla, from the collection of Mr.W. S. Bohn, upon which one or other of these instruments figures.”
“Nos. 12 and 13, and p. 11; Suetonius, _Vitae Neronis_, ed. Charles Patin, cap. 41, p. 304, where the contorniate in question, whose musical instrument differs essentially from Bianchini's and Montfaucon's, is figured.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy"
“The contorniate referred to is one containing the hydraulic organ, and the legend _Laurentinus Aug_., but no bag-pipe.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy"
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘contorniate’.
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More Adjectival Arcana
List of adjectives such as everduring that do not frequent common speech and writing. A continuation of my list Adjectival Arcana, which had grown to over 7700 words and had become far too cumbersome.
transpontine, fetichistic, everduring, tachygraphic, tachygraphical, holographic, holographical, spectrobolographic, autographic, chirographal, autographal, ipsographic and 1419 more...
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phrontistery - c
from phrontistery.info
caballine, cabas, cable, caboched, cabochon, caboose, cabotage, cabré, cabrie, cabriole, cabriolet, cacaesthesia and 1298 more...
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Quenelles of Random Palavery
More randomly-garnered terms from the world of words that don't quite yet fit into my other lists.
Goddidit, barcelona, filigrain, good-natured, ill-natured, half-bit, endosome, underplaying, parotid, denormalization, sleightgeist, wheezing and 2334 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for contorniate.
hernesheir A term for the Wordnik coin and medal listers, as well as those interested in Roman history. Oct 22, 2011