Cryptic crossword reference lists > Roman numerals
Roman numerals
How Roman numerals are used in cryptic clues.
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Roman numerals are formed using seven letters to represent different number values.
1 = I 5 = V 10 = X 50 = L 100 = C 500 = D 1000 = M |
You old?
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Roman numerals are written as an addition of number values from highest to lowest, from left to right. The exceptions are fours and nines, which are written as subtractions by putting the lower value first. See table at right. |
Hundreds 100 = C 200 = CC 300 = CCC 400 = CD 500 = D 600 = DC 700 = DCC 800 = DCCC 900 = CM |
Tens 10 = X 20 = XX 30 = XXX 40 = XL 50 = L 60 = LX 70 = LXX 80 = LXX 90 = XC |
Units 1 = I 2 = II 3 = III 4 = IV 5 = V 6 = VI 7 = VII 8 = VIII 9 = IX |
To convert Arabic numerals e.g. 999 into Roman numerals, write the symbols for the number of hundreds: CM, followed by the symbols for the number of tens: XC, followed by the symbols for the number of units: IX. So 999 is written as CMXCIX.
Sometimes cryptic clues break the conventional use of Roman numerals. Examples:
49 = IL
99 = IC
499 = ID
999 = IM
Medieval Roman numerals
Medieval Roman numerals are still listed in some dictionaries. They are occasionally used in cryptic clues and the medieval usage is sometimes indicated by thousand, e.g. 200,000 = H.
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1 = I
5 = A or V 7 = S or Z 10 = X 11 = O 40 = F 50 = L |
70 = S
80 = R 90 = N or Q 100 = C 150 = Y 160 = T 200 = H |
250 = E or K
300 = B 400 = G or P 500 = A, D or Q 1000 = M 2000 = Z |