Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Same as
obol . - noun A small silver coin current in the middle ages in Hungary, Poland, Bohemia, etc.
- noun [capitalized] [NL.] In zoology, a genus of brachiopods of the family Lingulidæ, from the Silurian, having orbicular valves.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A small silver coin of Athens, the sixth part of a drachma, about three cents in value.
- noun An ancient weight, the sixth part of a drachm.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
silver coin minted inAncient Greece , valued at a sixth of adrachma .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a Greek unit of weight equal to one tenth of a gram
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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I recommend seven or eight small pieces of iron to be prepared, a fathom in size, in thickness like a thick specillum, and bent at the extremity, and a broad piece should be on the extremity, like a small obolus.
On Hemorrhoids 2007
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The same St. Augustine observes in his one hundred and fifty-third letter, “It is written that the whole world belongs to the faithful, and infidels have not an obolus that they possess legitimately.”
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A diadem is purchased with gold; silver opens the way to heaven; philosophy may be hired for a penny; money controls justice; one obolus satisfies a man of letters; precious metal procures health; wealth attaches friends.
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You go to buy lettuces: they cost an obolus, but not a talent.
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I will not return an obolus to anyone who says him instead of her for a kneading-trough.
The Clouds 2000
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This cursed man, when striking out right and left with his torch, knocked over ten loaves worth an obolus apiece, and then, to cap the deal, four others.
The Wasps 2000
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I remember at the feasts of Zeus you had a consuming wish for a little chariot and I bought it for you with the first obolus which
The Clouds 2000
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Because, though old and broken-down as he is, he would put to sea on a hurdle to gain an obolus.
Peace 2000
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If, after such conduct, he proves he has done well, I would not give an obolus for the hide of old men.
The Clouds 2000
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If then you learn this science, which is false, I shall not have to pay an obolus of all the debts I have contracted on your account.
The Clouds 2000
chained_bear commented on the word obolus
In palaeontology, "(In form Obolus) a genus of fossil brachiopods having a smooth orbicular shell, widespread in Cambrian and Ordovician rocks; (also obolus) a brachiopod of this genus." (OED)
September 9, 2008