A junior officer rank in the Roman army, typically second-in-command of a century. An optio served as assistant to a centurion.
From Latin 'optio' meaning 'choice' or 'chooser', from 'optare' (to choose, wish). The military rank was so called because optiones were chosen by centurions as their assistants and deputies.
The Roman optio was essentially the sergeant to a centurion's lieutenant, handling day-to-day administration and discipline. Interestingly, the word 'option' comes from the same Latin root, showing how military hierarchy and civilian choice-making share linguistic DNA.
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