noun · rare

plebe

plebe · plebes

A plebeian, a member of the lower class of Roman citizensA plebeian, a member of the lower class of Roman citizens.

UK/pliːb/US/plib/

Meaning

4 senses

(historical, usually plural)A plebeian, a member of the lower class of Roman citizens.
(US, slang)A freshman cadet at a military academy.
a military trainee (as at a military academy)
(historical, obsolete)The plebs, the plebeian class.
(obsolete)The similar lower class of any area.

Origin

From Latin plēbs (“the plebeian class”), probably via Middle French plebe (“plebeians, com

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.

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