different between plebeian vs subaltern

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

English

Etymology

From Middle French subalterne, from Late Latin subalternus, from Latin sub- + alternus, from alter.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s?b?lt?n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /s?b??lt?rn/, IPA^(key): /?s?b?lt?n/

Adjective

subaltern (comparative more subaltern, superlative most subaltern)

1. Of a lower rank or position; inferior or secondary; especially (military) ranking as a junior officer, below the rank of captain.

2. (logic) Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.

Translations

Noun

subaltern (plural subalterns)

1. A subordinate.
2. (Britain) A commissioned officer having a rank below that of captain; a lieutenant or second lieutenant.
3. (logic) A subaltern proposition; a proposition implied by a universal proposition. For example, some crows are black is a subaltern of all crows are black.
4. (social sciences, literary theory) A member of a group that is socially, politically and geographically outside of the hegemonic power structure of the colony and of the colonial homeland.
   • 2012, Aparajita De, Amrita Ghosh, Ujjwal Jana, Subaltern Vision: A Study in Postcolonial Indian English Text (page 109)

     In Ghosh's novel, a canonical western scientist is pitted against a counterscientific group of native folk-medicine practitioners led by Mangala, a subaltern in every conceivable meaning of the term.

Translations

Derived terms

• subalternism

Coordinate terms

• lieutenant

Further reading

• subaltern on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• subrental, unstabler

Romanian

Etymology

From French subalterne

Noun

subaltern m (plural subalterni)

1. underling, subordinate

Declension