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Webster 1913 Edition


Plebeian

Ple-be′ian

(plē̍-bē′yan)
,
Adj.
[L.
plebeius
, from
plebs
,
plebis
, the common people: cf. F.
plébéien
.]
1.
Of or pertaining to the Roman plebs, or common people.
2.
Of or pertaining to the common people; vulgar; common;
as,
plebeian
sports; a
plebeian
throng.

Ple-be′ian

,
Noun.
1.
One of the
plebs
, or common people of ancient Rome, in distinction from
patrician
.
2.
One of the common people, or lower rank of men.

Webster 1828 Edition


Plebeian

PLEBE'IAN

,
Adj.
[L. plebeius, from plebs, the common people.]
1.
Pertaining to the common people; vulgar; as plebeian minds; plebeian sports.
2.
Consisting of common people; as a plebeian throng.

PLEBE'IAN

,
Noun.
One of the common people or lower ranks of men. [Usually applied to the common people of ancient Rome.]

Definition 2024


plebeian

plebeian

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

plebeian (comparative more plebeian, superlative most plebeian)

  1. Of or pertaining to the Roman plebs, or common people.
  2. Of or pertaining to the common people; vulgar; common.
    plebeian sports
    They were all from the ghetto, a plebeian throng.
    • 2016 September 8, Andrew Cunningham, “The $10,000 golden Apple Watch is no more”, in Arstechnica:
      Completely absent was any mention of the Apple Watch Edition branding, which Apple used last year to launch a pair of $10,000-and-up Apple Watches that worked the same way as the cheap ones but were made out of actual gold instead of workaday, plebeian metals.

Synonyms

  • (of or pertaining to the common people): vulgar

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

plebeian (plural plebeians)

  1. One of the plebs, or common people of ancient Rome, in distinction from patrician.
  2. (archaic) One of the common people, or lower rank of men.
    • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 3.
      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.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations