sesterce

Etymology

From Latin sēstertius (“that is two-and-a-half”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛstɜːs/

Noun

sesterce (plural sesterces)

1. A sestertius.
   • 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford: Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 216894069; The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd corrected and augmented edition, Oxford: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, 1624, OCLC 54573970, (please specify |partition=1, 2, or 3):
     , II.3.3:

     Nonius the senator hath a purple coat as stiff with jewels as his mind is full of vices; rings on his fingers worth 20,000 sesterces […]

   • 1985, Anthony Burgess, Kingdom of the Wicked:

     For him I must convert one of my sheep or goats to sesterces and slaughter another for his entertainment.

Anagrams

• secretes