roman
roman — adjective
1. describing printed letters that stand straight up rather than leaning to one sid
describing printed letters that stand straight up rather than leaning to one side, as normal book text does.
The book's main text is set in roman type, while notes use italics.
contrast with italic in same sentence
Apinya changed the font from italic to roman in her essay.
switch between italic and roman
Most official forms require information in roman rather than italic style.
Newspaper articles are printed in roman letters for easy reading.
The editor asked for all headings to be in roman, not bold or italic.
文法句型
used before a noun describing type style
用法筆記
Frequently used in contrast with italic or bold when describing typefaces. In word-processing software, roman is often called 'regular' or 'normal'.
常見錯誤
2. belonging to the ancient city of Rome or the vast empire it built.
belonging to the ancient city of Rome or the vast empire it built.
Brooke visited the Roman Forum during her trip to Italy.
collocation: Roman Forum
The museum displayed Roman coins from the first century.
Roman law influenced many legal systems across Europe and beyond.
Aarav's history class studied the fall of the Roman Empire.
Roman soldiers built roads that connected distant parts of the empire.
文法句型
used before a noun or after linking verb
用法筆記
Capitalised (Roman) for all Rome-related senses. This sense covers people, places, culture, and political institutions of ancient Rome from roughly 753 BCE to 476 CE.
3. belonging to the present-day Italian city of Rome.
belonging to the present-day Italian city of Rome.
Lien booked a hotel in a quiet Roman neighborhood near the river.
Modern Roman restaurants serve both traditional pasta and international food.
Modern Roman + restaurants
The Roman metro system connects the city center to the suburbs.
Zayd admired the mix of ancient ruins and modern Roman life.
- contemporary Roman
explicitly clarifies the time period
文法句型
used before a noun or after linking verb
用法筆記
Capitalised (Roman). Distinguish from the ANCIENT ROME sense (adj/2): if the context involves contemporary transport, politics, or daily life, use this sense. When the time period is unclear, readers assume the ancient sense by default.
常見錯誤
4. connected with the branch of Christianity that recognises the Pope in Rome as it
connected with the branch of Christianity that recognises the Pope in Rome as its leader.
The Roman Catholic Church holds regular services at the local cathedral.
collocation: Roman Catholic Church
Hana attended a Roman Catholic school in her hometown for six years.
collocation: Roman Catholic school
Many Roman Catholic traditions date back several centuries to early church history.
Kevin's family follows Roman Catholic teachings and attends Sunday mass.
- Protestant
a separate major branch of Christianity
文法句型
used before a noun
用法筆記
Always capitalised (Roman). In formal writing the full term 'Roman Catholic' is preferred over 'Catholic' when distinguishing this branch from other Christian denominations. Commonly abbreviated as RC in writing.
常見錯誤
roman — noun
1. the style of printed text in which letters stand upright rather than leaning to
the style of printed text in which letters stand upright rather than leaning to one side.
The designer chose roman for the body text of the magazine.
use of roman for body text
Élise prefers to read books printed in a clear roman typeface.
preposition: in roman
Instructions should be written in roman to keep them easy to read.
The title was in italics but the rest of the document was in roman.
- roman type
fuller form
- roman face
technical term in printing
文法句型
often preceded by 'in' (in roman)
用法筆記
Uncountable — you cannot say 'a roman' or 'two romans' for this sense. Typically lowercase in print. Often appears in the phrase 'in roman'.
常見錯誤
2. an inhabitant of the ancient city of Rome or any territory ruled by it.
an inhabitant of the ancient city of Rome or any territory ruled by it.
Ancient Romans built aqueducts to bring water into the city.
plural: Ancient Romans + action
Rachid read about how Romans governed their vast territories across three continents.
The Romans introduced concrete as a strong building material for large structures.
Adina learned that wealthy Romans often owned country villas outside the city.
Romans celebrated festivals throughout the year with games and feasts.
- ancient Roman
more specific about the historical period
- citizen of Rome
emphasises legal status rather than residency
- barbarian
term Romans used for outsiders
文法句型
used with 'the' (the Romans)
often plural
用法筆記
Almost always capitalised. The plural the Romans is very common when referring to the people of ancient Rome collectively. Singular a Roman refers to one individual.
常見錯誤
3. someone who makes their home in the present-day Italian capital of Rome.
someone who makes their home in the present-day Italian capital of Rome.
Maeve asked a local Roman for directions to the train station.
a local Roman — resident of modern Rome
Today's Romans enjoy gelato while walking through the historic streets.
Ramón noticed that Romans drive small cars to navigate the narrow roads.
Many modern Romans work in tourism, serving visitors from around the world.
- resident of Rome
more formal, removes time ambiguity
文法句型
usually singular or plural with modifier
用法筆記
Capitalised (Roman). Distinguish from the ANCIENT ROMAN sense (noun/2): if the person is described doing something contemporary (driving, using a smartphone, eating at a restaurant), this sense applies. Adding modern or today's prevents ambiguity.