obolus
Definition
- Noun:
- A Greek unit of weight: An
obolusis a small unit of weight used in ancient Greece, historically equal to one sixth of a drachma. In modern metric terms, it is defined as one tenth of a gram.
Usage
- The word is used primarily in historical, numismatic, or academic contexts to refer to an ancient measurement.
- It can also refer to a small silver coin of the same weight used in ancient Greece.
Examples
- Noun:
- The ancient recipe called for an obolus of saffron.
- Charon's fee for ferrying souls across the River Styx was traditionally an obolus, placed in the mouth of the deceased.
Advanced Usage
- "Pay one's obolus": An idiomatic expression stemming from the ancient practice, meaning to pay one's due or settle a debt, often with a connotation of a final payment.
- By completing the project, he finally paid his obolus to the team.
Variants and Related Words
- Obol (n): A common variant spelling of .
- Drachma (n): A larger Greek unit of weight and silver coin, equal to six oboloi.
- Mina (n): A larger Greek unit of weight, equal to 100 drachmae.
Synonyms
- Weight unit: A general term for any unit of measurement for mass.
- Small coin: A general term for a coin of little value.
Related Phrases
- Charon's obol: A specific phrase referring to the coin used as a burial custom to pay the ferryman Charon in Greek mythology.
- Archaeologists found a Charon's obol in the ancient tomb.
Noun
-
a Greek unit of weight equal to one tenth of a gram
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