different between civilian vs plebeian

English

Etymology

From Middle English cyvylien, from Old French civilien.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??v?lj?n/

Noun

civilian (plural civilians)

1. A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the armed forces.

2. (informal) A person who does not belong to a particular group or engage in a particular activity.

3. One skilled in civil law.
   • 1724, Jonathan Swift, Drapier's Letters, 4

     Ancient civilians and writers upon government.

4. A student of civil law at a university or college.
   • 1788, Richard Graves, Recollection of Some Particulars in the Life of the Late William Shenstone

     although he kept his name in the college books, and changed his commoner gown to that of a civilian, yet he had now, I believe, no thoughts of proceeding to any degree; and seldom resided in college any more

Translations

Adjective

civilian (not comparable)

1. Not related to the military, police or other governmental professions.

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• plebian
• plebeyan, plebean, plebeane, plebien (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin pl?b?ius (“a commoner; common”) + -an (“forming adjectives”), from Latin pl?b?s + -ius (“forming adjectives”), possibly under the influence of Middle French plebeyen, plebein, plebien (“a commoner”) and plebeien (“concerning the common people”). Cf. Medieval Latin pl?b?i?nus (“a commoner”), from pl?b?ius + -?nus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pli?bi??n/, /pl??bi??n/
• Rhymes: -i??n

Noun

plebeian (plural plebeians)

1. (historical, Ancient Rome) A member of the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.

   Synonyms: commoner, pleb, plebe

   Antonym: patrician

   • 1533, John Bellenden translating Livy, History of Rome, Vol. II, Ch. iv, Sect. ii:

     Na plebeane will tak þe dochter of ane patriciane but hir consent.

2. A commoner, particularly (derogatory) a low, vulgar person.

   Synonyms: commoner, villain, peasant, nobody

   Antonyms: noble, aristocrat

   • c. 1550, Robert Wedderburn, The Complaynt of Scotlande..., Ch. xv, p. 102:

     There blude... vald hef na bettir cullour nor the blude of ane plebien or of ane mecanik craftis man.

   • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 3.

     The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian.

Derived terms

• pleb

Related terms

• plebe, plebs, plebeiance, plebeianism, plebeity, plebeiate

Translations

Adjective

plebeian (comparative more plebeian, superlative most plebeian)

1. (historical) Of or concerning the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.
   • 1566, William Painter, The Palace of Pleasure Beautified, Vol. I, Ch. iv, fol. 9 verso:

     To what purpose be the plebeian Magistrates ordeined?

2. Of or concerning the common people.
   • 1602, William Watson, A Decacordon of Ten Quodlibeticall Questions, p. 301:

     ...priuate person or plebian multitude...

3. Common, particularly (derogatory) vulgar, crude, coarse, uncultured.
   • 1615, Robert Armin, The Valiant Welshman, Vol. i, Ch. i, sig. B:

     For to plebeyan wits, it is as good,
     As to be silent, as not vnderstood.

Synonyms

• (of or pertaining to the common people): vulgar, common, popular

Antonyms

• (of or pertaining to the common people): noble, aristocratic

Derived terms

• plebeianly, plebeianness

Translations

Further reading

• plebeian in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• “plebeian, n. and adj.”, in OED Online ?, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2006

Romanian

Etymology

From French plébéien

Adjective

plebeian m or n (feminine singular plebeian?, masculine plural plebeieni, feminine and neuter plural plebeiene)

1. plebeian

Declension