English
Rome
Pronunciation
  • (British), enPR: rōm, IPA: /ɹəʊm/, (archaic, dialectal) IPA: /ɹum/
  • (America), enPR: rōm, IPA: /ɹoʊm/
Proper noun
  1. A city on the Tiber on the Italian ; ancient capital.
    • circa 1599 William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar, I ii 157:
      When could they say (till now) that talk'd of Rome,
      That her wide Walles incompast but one man?
      Now is it Rome indeed, and Roome enough
      When there is in it but one onely man.
    • 1866 December 8, 'Filius Ecclesiæ', Notes & Queries, "Rome:Room", 456 1:
      Within the last thirty weeks I have heard the word Rome pronounced Room by several old-fashioned people in the north of Ireland, some of my own relations among the number. On remonstrating with one of these, she said, "It was always Room when I was at school (say about 1830), and I am too old to change it now."
  2. Ancient Rome; the former Roman Empire; Roman civilization.
    • 1594, William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, I i 82:
      These that suruiue, let Rome reward with loue.
    • 1711, Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Criticism", 39:
      Learning and Rome alike in Empire grew,
      And Arts still follow'd where her Eagles flew;
      From the same Foes [viz., Tyranny and Superstition], at last, both felt their Doom,
      And the same Age saw Learning fall, and Rome.
    • 1820, Lord Byron, Marino Faliero, V i:
      A wife's dishonour unking'd Rome for ever.
  3. The Holy See, the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly prior to the establishment of the Vatican City in the 19th century.
    • 1537 January 26, T. Starkey, letter:
      The wych you perauenture wyl impute to thys defectyon from Rome.
    • circa 1597 William Shakespeare, The firſt Part of Henry the Sixt, III ii:
      Winch. Rome shall remedie this
      Warw. Roame thither then.
  4. The Church of Rome, the Roman Catholic Church generally.
    • circa 1596 William Shakespeare, The life and death of King Iohn, V ii 70:
      King Iohn hath reconcil'd Himselfe to Rome.
  5. A metropolitan city in Lazio, Italy.
  6. Surname
Synonyms Translations Translations

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