plebeian
UK[plɪˈbiːən]US[plɪˈbiːən]
adj
relating to or belonging to the common people of ancient rome.
adj
lacking in refinement or sophistication; common or vulgar.
n
a common person in ancient rome who was not a member of the nobility.
n
a person who is considered to be common or lacking in cultural refinement.
Morpheme Breakdown
plebe
ian
plebe
the common people
ian
Etymology
the word 'plebeian' has a direct lineage from ancient latin plebeius, which itself derives from plebs, the term for the general body of free roman citizens who were not part of the privileged patrician class. the suffix -anus (anglicized to -ian) was added to indicate belonging or relation. the semantic journey is remarkably consistent: from its literal application to the roman social order, the term was adopted into english to describe anything pertaining to the common populace. over time, it acquired a pejorative connotation, reflecting aristocratic biases by equating commonness with a lack of sophistication or refinement, a meaning that persists in modern usage.
Analysis
Structure: plebe + ian
plebe (from latin plebs, plebis meaning 'the common people') + ian (a suffix of latin origin forming adjectives meaning 'belonging to' or 'relating to').
Examples
the senator was accused of having plebeian tastes in art and literature.
in ancient rome, the struggle between the patricians and the plebeians shaped early republican politics.
he dismissed their concerns as mere plebeian gossip.