plebe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A plebeian, a member of the lower class of Roman citizens.
  2. The plebs, the plebeian class.
  3. The similar lower class of any area.
  4. A freshman cadet at a military academy.

Pronunciation

/plib/ /pliːb/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-plebe.wav

Word forms

plebe plebes

Etymology

From Latin plēbs (“the plebeian class”), probably via Middle French plebe (“plebeians, commoners, the rabble”) and possibly later understood as a clipping of plebeian. Cognate with Italian plebe, Spanish plebe, Portuguese plebe.

Related words

Derived words

pleb plebe class plebe year plebeskin
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