plebeian

plural plebeians · alternative plebian · alternative obsolete plebeyan · alternative obsolete plebean · alternative obsolete plebeane · alternative obsolete plebien

1. Ancient RomehistoricalA member of the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.

   The cognomen was first used in patrician families, who were distinguished from the plebeians by their three names.

   1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xiv

   1 more example

   Na plebeane will tak þe dochter of ane patriciane but hir consent. [No plebeian will take the daughter of any patrician but her consent]

   1533, John Bellenden translating Livy, History of Rome, Vol. II, Ch. iv, Sect. ii

   Synonyms: commoner, pleb, plebe · Antonyms: patrician

2. A commoner, particularly (derogatory) a low, vulgar person.

   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.

   1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral., London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 3

   1 more example

   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]

   c. 1550, Robert Wedderburn, The Complaynt of Scotlande..., Ch. xv, p. 102

   Synonyms: commoner, villain, peasant, nobody · Antonyms: noble, aristocrat

comparative more plebeian · superlative most plebeian · alternative plebian · alternative obsolete plebeyan · alternative obsolete plebean · alternative obsolete plebeane · alternative obsolete plebien

1. historicalOf or concerning the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.

   To what purpose be the plebeian Magistrates ordeined?

   1566, William Painter, The Palace of Pleasure Beautified, Vol. I, Ch. iv, fol. 9 verso

2. Of or concerning the common people.

   ...priuate person or plebian multitude...

   1602, William Watson, A Decacordon of Ten Quodlibeticall Questions, page 301

3. Common, particularly (derogatory) vulgar, crude, coarse, uncultured.

   […] told me love was too plebeian / told me you were through with me

   1953, Arthur Hamilton, “Cry Me a River”

   2 more examples

   For to plebeyan wits, it is as good, As to be silent, as not vnderstood.

   1615, Robert Armin, The Valiant Welshman, Vol. i, Ch. i, sig. B

   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.

   2016 September 8, Andrew Cunningham, “The $10,000 golden Apple Watch is no more”, in Arstechnica