°A
period of 100 consecutive
years;
often specifically a numbered period with conventional start and end dates, e.g., the
twentieth century, which stretches from (
strictly) 1901 through 2000, or (
informally) 1900 through 1999. The
first century AD was from 1 to 100.
°A
unit in
ancient Roman, originally of 100
army soldiers as part of a
cohort, later of more varied sizes (but typically containing 60 to 70 or 80) soldiers or other men (guards, police, firemen), commanded by a
centurion.
synonyms:
centuria