plebeian
/pliˈbiːən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.44 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A member of the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.
noun
A commoner, particularly (derogatory) a low, vulgar person.
adj
Of or concerning the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.
adj
Of or concerning the common people.
adj
Common, particularly (derogatory) vulgar, crude, coarse, uncultured.
Example Sentences
- "Na plebeane will tak þe dochter of ane patriciane but hir consent. [No plebeian will take the daughter of any patrician but her consent]"
- "The cognomen was first used in patrician families, who were distinguished from the plebeians by their three names."
- "There blude... vald hef na bettir cullour nor the blude of ane plebien or of ane mecanik craftis man. [Their blood... would have no better color nor the blood of any plebeian or of any mechanic craftsman]"
- "The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian."
- "To what purpose be the plebeian Magistrates ordeined?"
- "...priuate person or plebian multitude..."
Etymology
From Latin plēbēius (“a commoner; common”) + -an (adjective-forming suffix), from Latin plēbēs + -ius (adjective-forming suffix), possibly under the influence of Middle French plebeyen, plebein, plebien (“a commoner”) and plebeien (“concerning the common people”). Cf. Medieval Latin plēbēiānus (“a commoner”), from plēbēius + -ānus.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
Inflected Forms
plebeians (plural)
plebian (alternative)
plebeyan (alternative, obsolete)
plebean (alternative, obsolete)
plebeane (alternative, obsolete)
plebien (alternative, obsolete)
more plebeian (comparative)
most plebeian (superlative)