I. ˈrōmən noun
Etymology: partly from Middle English, from Old English, from Latin Romanus, adjective & noun from Roma Rome + -anus -an; partly from Middle English Romain, from Old French, from Latin Romanus
1. -s capitalized
a. : a native or resident of Rome
b. : a Christian inhabitant of ancient Rome — usually used in plural
the Epistle to the Romans
2. -s usually capitalized : roman catholic — often taken to be offensive
3. -s : roman letters or type
set this word in roman
4. -s capitalized
a. archaic : latin
b. archaic : romance I 5
c. : the Italian dialect of Rome
5.
a. usually capitalized : an Italian breed of small stocky short-necked white geese
b. -s often capitalized : any bird of this breed
6. -s : a bright red sparid sea fish ( Chrysoblephus laticeps ) of southern Africa valued for sport and food — called also red roman
II. adjective
Etymology: partly from Middle English, from Latin Romanus; partly from Middle English Romain, from Old French, from Latin Romanus
1. usually capitalized
a. : of, relating to, or characteristic of Rome, Italy, especially ancient Rome
b. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the people of Rome ; specifically : having characteristics (as fortitude, courage, justice, or manliness) attributed to the ancient Romans
by his Roman bearing in adversity, has earned a great deal of public sympathy — Economist
2. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the language of the ancient Romans
3.
a. : upright — used of numbers and the letters of English and other languages whose capital forms are modeled on ancient Roman inscriptions especially as distinguished from italic, black letter, and the letters of non-Latin alphabets
b. usually capitalized : being round, bold, and clear — used of handwriting
4. usually capitalized
a. : of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman practices
b. : of or relating to the Latin rite
the Roman liturgy
5. : having a semicircular intrados : round
a roman arch
6. usually capitalized : having a prominent bridge of slightly aquiline cast
a Roman nose
7. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or constituting a mosaic formed by the ends of short slender sticks of colored glass fixed in cement
8. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Roman ride