Glevum

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An ancient Roman settlement that developed into a significant town ; the historical name for modern Gloucester, England ; a site of archaeological interest reflecting Roman urban life
2. A prominent Roman-era community established in Britain ; the former designation for today’s Gloucester in England ; an important locale for studying Roman Britain
3. The original Roman term for the location now called Gloucester in England ; an area known for its role as a Roman civitas ; a place where remnants of Roman occupation are found

Etymology: Glevum was the Latin name of the Roman town that stands on the site of modern Gloucester, in western England. The town was founded around AD 97 as a fortress for the Twentieth Legion, and it later became a colonia, a settlement for retired soldiers. The name is generally thought to come from a Celtic (British) word for something like "bright" or "clear," perhaps referring to the River Severn or the local landscape, though the exact meaning is uncertain. The name survives in a surprising way. Gloucester's Anglo-Saxon name, "Gleawanceaster," shows the Old English speakers who arrived after Rome's collapse adapting the Celtic base. The modern English pronunciation of Gloucester, "GLOS-ter," is a long way from the Latin, which was pronounced roughly "GLEH-wum." The Latin form itself is recorded in Roman sources and on inscriptions, which is how scholars know it.