proletarian

views updated May 23 2018

pro·le·tar·i·an / ˌprōliˈte(ə)rēən/ • adj. of or relating to the proletariat: a proletarian ideology.• n. a member of the proletariat.DERIVATIVES: pro·le·tar·i·an·ism / -ˌnizəm/ n.pro·le·tar·i·an·i·za·tion / -ˌterēənəˈzāshən/ n.pro·le·tar·i·an·ize / -ˌnīz/ v.

proletarian

views updated Jun 11 2018

proletarian pert. to the lowest class of the people XVII; wage-earning XIX. f. L. prōlētārius Roman citizen of the lowest class under the constitution of Servius Tullius, one who served the state not with his property but only with his offspring, (hence) common, low, f. *prōlētus provided with offspring, f. prōlēs offspring; see -ARIAN.
So proletariat(e) XIX. — F. prolétariat.