Old English, from Latin Romanus "of Rome, Roman," from Roma "Rome" (see Rome). The adjective is c. 1300, from Old French Romain. The Old English adjective was romanisc, which yielded Middle English Romanisshe.
As a type of numeral (usually contrasted to Arabic) it is attested from 1728; as a type of lettering (based on the upright style typical of Roman inscriptions, contrasted to Gothic, or black letter, and italic) it is recorded from 1510s. Roman nose is from 1620s. Roman candle as a type of fireworks is recorded from 1834. Roman Catholic is attested from c. 1600, a conciliatory formation from the time of the Spanish Match, replacing Romanist, Romish which by that time had the taint of insult in Protestant England.
"a novel," 1765, from French roman, from Old French romanz (see romance (n.)); roman à clef, novel in which characters represent real persons, literally "novel with a key" (French), first attested in English 1893. And, for those who can't get enough of it, roman policier "a story of police detection" (1928).
双语例句
1. It was reminiscent of a scene from a Roman orgy.
这一幕让人想起古罗马荒淫的狂欢宴会。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The clock is available with either Roman or Arabic numerals.
这款钟有带罗马数字的，也有带阿拉伯数字的。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The Roman Empire was divided in the fourth century AD.
罗马帝国于公元4世纪分裂。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Ex-cavations have revealed Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains in the area.
挖掘工作已显示在该地区有罗马和盎格鲁-撒克逊时代的遗迹。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Roman vessels used to sail with the tide from Boulogne to Richborough.
