Romans

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A people originating from the city of Rome, known for their extensive empire and cultural influence throughout history
2. Inhabitants of ancient Rome, notable for their contributions to law, architecture, and governance in the Mediterranean
3. A group of ancient individuals who formed the civilization centered in Rome, renowned for advances in engineering, law, and military strategy

Etymology: "Romans" is simply the plural of "Roman," so its history is the history of the people and the adjective-turned-noun behind it. The name traces back to Rome, the city on the Tiber, and the people took their identity from that place: a Roman was someone of Rome, and the plural gathers together all the inhabitants of that city and, eventually, the wider state it governed. Over time the word stretched far beyond the city walls. What began as a label for residents of one city came to name the whole civilization that spread across the Mediterranean, bringing its roads, law codes, and legions to lands from Britain to North Africa. The noun now refers to that people as a collective, which is why we talk about "the Romans" as an entity rather than a set of individuals living in a single town.

Synonyms: citizens, inhabitants, dwellers

Antonyms: foreigners, outsiders, strangers