The plural of lira, referring to the former currency of Italy and several other countries. Also used as the plural form in some Romance languages meaning 'to read.'
From Latin 'libra' meaning 'pound' or 'balance,' referring to a unit of weight that became a monetary unit. The Italian lira was based on the ancient Roman system of weights and measures.
Before the euro, Italy's lire came in such large denominations that a cup of coffee might cost 1,000 lire, making mental math an daily challenge for tourists. The word also means 'to read' in French and Italian, showing how the same Latin root 'legere' evolved differently across Romance languages.
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