Century

a period of 100 years.
one of the successive periods of 100 years reckoned forward or backward from a recognized chronological epoch, especially from the assumed date of the birth of Jesus.
any group or collection of 100:
a century of limericks.
(in the ancient Roman army) a company, consisting of approximately 100 men.
one of the voting divisions of the ancient Roman people, each division having one vote.
(initial capital letter) Printing. a style of type.
Slang. a hundred-dollar bill; 100 dollars.
Sports. a race of 100 yards or meters, as in track or swimming, or of 100 miles, as in bicycle racing.
Cricket. a score of at least 100 runs made by one batsman in a single inning.
Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

noun (pl) -ries
a period of 100 years
one of the successive periods of 100 years dated before or after an epoch or event, esp the birth of Christ

a score or grouping of 100: to score a century in cricket
(mainly US) (as modifier): the basketball team passed the century mark in their last game

(in ancient Rome) a unit of foot soldiers, originally 100 strong, later consisting of 60 to 80 men See also maniple
(in ancient Rome) a division of the people for purposes of voting
(often capital) a style of type
n.

1530s, “one hundred (of anything),” from Latin centuria “group of one hundred” of things of one kind (including a measure of land and a division of the Roman army, one-sixteenth of a legion, headed by a centurion), from centum “hundred” (see hundred) on analogy of decuria “a company of ten.”

Used in Middle English from late 14c. as a division of land, from Roman use. The Modern English meaning is attested from 1650s, short for century of years (1620s). The older, general sense is preserved in the meaning “score of 100 points” in cricket and some other sports. Related: Centurial.

noun

A hundred dollars: For two centuries a week I had me a bodyguard (1850s+)
see: turn of the century