contorniate
1 of 2adjective
con·tor·ni·ate
kənˈtȯ(r)nēə̇t,
-ēˌāt
: encircled by a groove just inside the edge
a contorniate medal
contorniate
2 of 2noun
"
variants or less commonly contorniato
⸗ˌ⸗nēˈätō
plural contorniates
-ts
also contorniati -ätē
: a thin bronze contorniate medallion of the Roman Empire first used about the time of Constantine the Great supposedly in connection with a game like chess
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Italian contorniato, from past participle of contorniare to make a circuit or outline, from com- + torniare to surround, measure in circuit, from tornio, torno turning lathe, circuit, from Latin tornus lathe
Noun
contorniate from French, from Italian contorniato; contorniato from Italian, from contorniato, adjective