Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A large ancient copper coin, now very rare, of ten times the value of the as. See
as , and æs grave, under æs.
Etymologies
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Examples
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-- The crux decussata or decussated cross, so called from its resemblance to the Roman decussis or symbol for the numeral 10, is in shape like the Greek letter chi; it is also known as St. Andrew's Cross, because that
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
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The letter X, which in the land-plottings of the Roman augurs represented, with its two component lines, the cardo maximus and the decumanus maximus, was the same decussis used by the Roman agrimensores, in their surveys of farms, to indicate boundaries.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
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Greek on the floor of the church along two straight lines crossing in the form of the Roman decussis.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
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While this reduction of the standard facilitated the manufacture of coins of larger values (dupondius, tripondius, decussis, equal to 2, 3, and 10 asses respectively), it resulted in giving to copper coins a current value far above their intrinsic worth and furthered the introduction of stamped, instead of cast, coins.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 11: New Mexico-Philip 1840-1916 1913
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From ancient monuments in painting, sculpture, and epigraphy we have seen the general usage of tracing a cross on the Eucharistic loaves which were thence called decussati (Latin decussis, a coin marked X).
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability 1840-1916 1913
hernesheir commented on the word decussis
An ancient copper coin.
December 1, 2010