plebs

Etymology

From Latin plēbs (“the plebeian class”), variant of earlier plēbēs. Later also understood as the plural of pleb.

noun

  1. plural of pleb

noun

  1. (historical) The plebeian class of Ancient Rome.
  2. The common people, especially (derogatory) the mob.
    For 'tis an Easier Thing To make Trees Leape, and Stones selfe-burthens bring (As once Amphion to the walls of Thæbes,) a. 1657, George Daniel, "The Author" in Poems, Vol. II, p. 131
    1993, Max Cavalera, "Refuse/Resist", Sepultura, Chaos A.D. Chaos A.D. / Tanks On The Streets / Confronting Police / Bleeding The Plebs
    The history of Palermo was punctuated by such uprisings; when they happened, the great barons simply fled to the safety of their country villas, leaving the urban plebs free to sack their palaces in the city. 2000, James Fentress, chapter 1, in Rebels & Mafiosi: Death in a Sicilian Landscape
    The lesser plebs are not unscrupulous troublemakers. 2009, Erica Benner, chapter 8, in Machiavelli's Ethics

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