centenarius

Centenarius is a Latin term formed from centum, meaning hundred. It functions as both an adjective meaning “of a hundred” and as a masculine noun centenarius. The form appears in Latin texts from late antiquity into the medieval period, with varied meanings depending on context and era.

In military usage, centenarius is encountered rarely and usually alongside more common terms such as centurio (centurion). When it occurs, it typically denotes an officer connected with a century (a unit historically comprised of around a hundred soldiers), though the exact duties and status can vary by source.

In civil and ecclesiastical contexts, centenarius can indicate something pertaining to a hundred units or to a hundred-year cycle, and may appear in charters, lists, or liturgical calendars. The term is not standardized and should be interpreted in light of the surrounding text.

Modern reference works treat centenarius as a historical linguistic or philological term rather than a fixed title. It occasionally appears in scholarly discussions of Roman administration, Latin morphology, or the historical organization of military and civil units. It is also encountered in Latinized form in fiction or in discussions of centennial anniversaries.