A century is traditionally defined as a period of 100 years. The concept is used widely across the globe to measure time in the context of history, culture, and personal milestones. For example, in sports like cricket, a "century" refers to a player scoring 100 runs in a match, an accomplishment highly celebrated in the sport. In historical contexts, centuries are used to break up the timeline of human civilization, such as the 20th century (1901–2000). The 21st century, for example, spans from 2001 to 2100, marking a new era in human history. Understanding centuries can give us perspective on the progression of societies, technology, and cultural norms over time.
Word 'Century' in Other Languages
- Century in Assamese অসমীয়া
- Century in Bengali বাংলা
- Century in Bodo बड़ो
- Century in Dogri डोगरी
- Century in English
- Century in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
- Century in Hindi हिन्दी
- Century in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
- Century in Kashmiri कॉशुर
- Century in Konkani कोंकणी
- Century in Maithili মৈথিলী
- Century in Malayalam മലയാളം
- Century in Manipuri মৈতৈলোন্
- Century in Marathi मराठी
- Century in Nepali नेपाली
- Century in Oriya ଓଡ଼ିଆ
- Century in Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
- Century in Sanskrit संस्कृतम्
- Century in Santali
- Century in Sindhi سنڌي
- Century in Tamil தமிழ்
- Century in Telugu తెలుగు
- Century in Urdu اُردُو
Century
Part of Speech
Noun
Pronunciation
/ˈsɛn.tʃʊɹ.i/
Definitions
- A period of one hundred years.
- A set of 100 items or units.
- A score of 100 runs in cricket.
Usage Examples
- "The city has been around for over a century."
- "She scored a century in the cricket match."
- "The museum has a collection of century-old artifacts."
Etymology
The word "century" comes from the Latin "centuria," meaning "a group of one hundred." It is derived from "centum," which means "hundred." The term has been used in English since the late 14th century to denote a period of 100 years.
Synonyms
- Hundred
- Century mark
- Hundred-year period
Antonyms
- Decade
- Millennium
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Siglo | /ˈsiɣlo/ |
| French | Siècle | /sjɛkl/ |
| German | Jahrhundert | /ˈjaːʁˌhʊndɐt/ |
| Italian | Secolo | /ˈsɛːkolo/ |
| Portuguese | Século | /ˈsɛkulo/ |
| Russian | Век | /vʲɛk/ |
| Chinese | 世纪 | shìjì |
| Hindi | सदी | /sadi/ |
| Arabic | قرن | /qarn/ |
| Japanese | 世紀 | seiki |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- American English: /ˈsɛn.tʃʊɹ.i/
- British English: /ˈsɛn.tʃʊɹ.i/
Historical Usage
The term "century" has been used in various contexts since the Middle Ages. In its original Roman usage, "century" referred to a military unit of 100 soldiers. Over time, the word evolved to represent a period of 100 years, marking key historical milestones and cultural changes.
Cultural Nuances
In many cultures, the idea of a century carries significance, often used to commemorate anniversaries or historical events. The concept of marking time in centuries is common in historical records and is often associated with the passage of time, highlighting the longevity and change of civilizations.