See Also: plebeian(medicine)
plebeian(dictionary)
plebeian(encyclopedia)
PLEBEIAN(law)
plebeian 1, adjective(dictionary)
plebeian 2, noun(dictionary)

plebeian (iou)



plebeian noun & adjective. M16.
[from Latin plebeius, from plebs: see PLEB, -IAN.]
A. noun.
1. Roman History. A commoner, a member of the plebs, as opp. to a patrician, senator, or knight. M16.
2. gen. A person of undistinguished birth or rank, a member of the common people. L16.
B. Breytenbach Where the plebeians..peek at the aristocrats. fig.: Lytton But one sort of plebeian, and that is the coward.
B. adjective.
1. Roman History. Of or belonging to the plebs. M16.
2. Of undistinguished birth or rank; of or pertaining to the common people. E17.
G. M. Trevelyan Harrow, founded under Elizabeth to meet local and plebeian needs, began to rise.
3. Commonplace, undistinguished; uncultured, vulgar, coarse; ignoble. E17.
Melody Maker Unswingingly plebeian in his dress sense.
plebeiance noun (rare) plebeian condition or action E17.
plebeianism noun plebeian character or style L18.
plebeianize verb trans. make plebeian, reduce to plebeian rank M19.
plebeianly adverb (rare) M17.
plebeianness [-n-n-] noun (rare) M19.