tribe
tribe
UK[traɪb]US[traɪb]
n
a social group in a traditional society consisting of people with the same language, culture, and history, often living in the same area and having a single leader.
n
a group of people who share the same interests, job, etc., or who are considered in some way to be the same type.
Etymology
the word "tribe" entered english in the 13th century from old french "tribu," which itself derived from latin "tribus." in ancient rome, "tribus" originally referred to one of the three political divisions of the roman people (the ramnes, tities, and luceres). the latin term is thought to possibly originate from a proto-italic root related to "division" or "a part of the people," which may be connected to the pie root treb- meaning "dwelling" or "household." over time, the meaning evolved from a specific roman political unit to a more general term for any distinct social group sharing ancestry, leadership, and territory, a sense solidified during the age of european exploration and colonialism.
Analysis
the word "tribe" is a simplex loanword from latin. it is not productively segmented into meaningful sub-parts in modern english spelling.
Examples
the maasai are a famous tribe from kenya and tanzania.
she felt a strong sense of belonging among her tribe of fellow artists.
the software developer tribe often gathers at this annual conference.