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plebeian
plebeian pert. to, a member of, the Roman plebs XVI; of low birth or rank XVII. f. L. plēbēius, f. plēbs, plēb- commonalty of ancient Rome, perh. rel. to plēnus FULL, Gr. plêthos, plēthús multitude; see -AN.
So plebiscite law enacted by the plebs XVI; direct vote of the whole electorate XIX. — (O)F. plébiscite — L. plēbiscītum, f. plēbs, plēb- + scītum ordinance, sb. use of n. pp. of sciscere approve, vote for, rel. to scīre know. |
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T. F. HOAD. "plebeian." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "plebeian." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plebeian.html T. F. HOAD. "plebeian." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plebeian.html |
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plebeian
ple·be·ian / pliˈbēən/ • n. (in ancient Rome) a commoner. ∎ a member of the lower social classes. • adj. of or belonging to the commoners of ancient Rome. ∎ of or belonging to the lower social classes. ∎ lacking in refinement: he is a man of plebeian tastes. |
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"plebeian." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plebeian." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-plebeian.html "plebeian." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-plebeian.html |
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plebeian
plebeian General body of Roman citizens, as distinct from the small patrician class. In the early years of the Republic, they were barred from public office and from marrying a patrician. The gulf between the two classes gradually closed. By the 3rd century bc, there was little legal distinction between them, although social differences remained.
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"plebeian." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plebeian." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-plebeian.html "plebeian." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-plebeian.html |
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plebeian
plebeian (in ancient Rome) a commoner, as opposed to the patricians, senators, and knights. Recorded from the mid 16th century, the word comes from Latin plebs, pleb- ‘the common people’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "plebeian." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "plebeian." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-plebeian.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "plebeian." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-plebeian.html |
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plebeian
plebeian •Eritrean, Ghanaian, Himalayan, Malayan, Tigrayan
•Actaeon, Aegean, aeon (US eon), Augean, Behan, Cadmean, Caribbean, Carolean, Chaldean, Cyclopean, empyrean, epicurean, European, Fijian, Galilean, Hasmonean, Hebridean, Herculean, Ian, Jacobean, Kampuchean, Laodicean, lien, Linnaean (US Linnean), Maccabean, Mandaean (US Mandean), Medicean, monogenean, Nabataean (US Nabatean), Orphean, paean, paeon, pean, peon, Periclean, piscean, plebeian, Pyrenean, Pythagorean, Sabaean, Sadducean, Sisyphean, skean, Tanzanian, Tennesseean, Terpsichorean, theodicean, Tyrolean
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"plebeian." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plebeian." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-plebeian.html "plebeian." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-plebeian.html |
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