Definitions
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Same as obol.
- n. A small silver coin current in the middle ages in Hungary, Poland, Bohemia, etc.
- n. [capitalized] [NL.] In zoology, a genus of brachiopods of the family Lingulidæ, from the Silurian, having orbicular valves.
Wiktionary
- n. A silver coin minted in Ancient Greece, valued at a sixth of a drachma.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A small silver coin of Athens, the sixth part of a drachma, about three cents in value.
- n. An ancient weight, the sixth part of a drachm.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a Greek unit of weight equal to one tenth of a gram
Etymologies
- Latin obolus, from Ancient Greek ὀβολός (obolos), from ὀβελός (obelos). (Wiktionary)
Examples
“I recommend seven or eight small pieces of iron to be prepared, a fathom in size, in thickness like a thick specillum, and bent at the extremity, and a broad piece should be on the extremity, like a small obolus.”
“The same St. Augustine observes in his one hundred and fifty-third letter, “It is written that the whole world belongs to the faithful, and infidels have not an obolus that they possess legitimately.””
“A diadem is purchased with gold; silver opens the way to heaven; philosophy may be hired for a penny; money controls justice; one obolus satisfies a man of letters; precious metal procures health; wealth attaches friends.”
“You go to buy lettuces: they cost an obolus, but not a talent.”
“I remember at the feasts of Zeus you had a consuming wish for a little chariot and I bought it for you with the first obolus which”
“If, after such conduct, he proves he has done well, I would not give an obolus for the hide of old men.”
“If then you learn this science, which is false, I shall not have to pay an obolus of all the debts I have contracted on your account.”
“I will not return an obolus to anyone who says him instead of her for a kneading-trough.”
“This cursed man, when striking out right and left with his torch, knocked over ten loaves worth an obolus apiece, and then, to cap the deal, four others.”
“Because, though old and broken-down as he is, he would put to sea on a hurdle to gain an obolus.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘obolus’.
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learning
A list of words whose meanings I am learning, either because a) I don't know the meaning b) I know the meaning, but could stand to better appreciate certain inflections or secondary meanings or c) ...
louche, educe, loam, cob, sclerotic, palliate, axial, syndicalist, ecumenical, sally, fatuous, parvenu and 1387 more...
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Words of Dinosaurology
This quickly got bigger and weirder than originally intended, so now it's housing terms that relate to the study of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. See also Dinosaurs, Pterosaurs, Ichthy...
zygopophyses, ziphodont, plesiomorphic, cleidoic, endothermy, ectothermy, viviparous, vertebrae, cervical, dorsal, sacral, caudal and 628 more...
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measured words
inchworm, football, yardstick, quarter, octave, week, fortnight, sofer, pentecost, whitsunday, izzard, heshvan and 43 more...
Tweets
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chained_bear In palaeontology, "(In form Obolus) a genus of fossil brachiopods having a smooth orbicular shell, widespread in Cambrian and Ordovician rocks; (also obolus) a brachiopod of this genus." (OED) Sep 8, 2008