°A 
period of 100 consecutive 
years; 
often specifically a numbered period with conventional start and end dates, e.g., the 
twentieth century, which stretches from (
strictly) 1901 through 2000, or (
informally) 1900 through 1999. The 
first century AD was from 1 to 100.
            
 
            
            
          
            
              °A 
unit in 
ancient Roman, originally of 100 
army soldiers as part of a 
cohort, later of more varied sizes (but typically containing 60 to 70 or 80) soldiers or other men (guards, police, firemen), commanded by a 
centurion.