centurion

noun sahn-tuh-RYOHN Rare

Origin: Latin centurio, commander of a century of soldiers

Usage Note

Centurion refers to a Roman army officer commanding roughly 80 soldiers in a century (centuria). In modern French it appears mainly in historical, literary, and film contexts. The plural is centurions.

Examples

"Le centurion commandait ses soldats."

Natural Translation

The centurion commanded his soldiers.

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