plebeian
Meaning: Relating to or characteristic of the common people, as opposed to the aristocracy or ruling class; also implying a lack of refinement or cultural sophistication.
Plebeian is the counterpart to patrician, deriving from the Roman social class of plebs (the common citizens as distinct from the ruling patricians). In modern usage, it is almost always pejorative, suggesting coarseness, vulgarity, or a lack of taste. It is used more in written than spoken English and carries a deliberately elevated, somewhat arch register. It collocates with 'plebeian tastes', 'plebeian origins', 'decidedly plebeian', and 'plebeian entertainment'.
Examples
- The food critic dismissed the restaurant's offerings as plebeian fare elevated to absurd prices by the addition of edible gold leaf and truffle oil. 美食评论家将这家餐厅的菜品斥为平庸的食物,只是靠添加食用金箔和松露油就抬到了荒唐的价格。El crítico gastronómico desestimó la oferta del restaurante como comida plebeya elevada a precios absurdos mediante la adición de láminas de oro comestible y aceite de trufa.美食評論家は、食用金箔とトリュフオイルを加えただけで法外な価格に吊り上げられた庶民的な料理だとして、そのレストランの品々を一蹴した。그 음식 평론가는 식용 금박과 트러플 오일을 추가해 터무니없는 가격으로 올려놓은 서민적인 음식에 불과하다며 레스토랑의 메뉴를 일축했다.
- Despite his plebeian origins, he rose through the ranks of the civil service to become one of the most influential figures in Whitehall. 尽管出身平民,他在公务员体系中一路晋升,成为白厅最具影响力的人物之一。A pesar de sus orígenes plebeyos, ascendió por los escalafones de la administración pública hasta convertirse en una de las figuras más influyentes de Whitehall.庶民的な出自にもかかわらず、彼は官僚機構の階段を上り詰め、ホワイトホールで最も影響力のある人物のひとりとなった。서민적 출신임에도 불구하고, 그는 관료 조직의 계단을 올라 화이트홀에서 가장 영향력 있는 인물 중 한 명이 되었다.
- The senator's affected plebeian mannerisms — the rolled-up sleeves, the pint in the pub — convinced nobody of his solidarity with the working class. 那位参议员刻意装出的平民做派——卷起的袖子、在酒吧端着一品脱啤酒——没有让任何人相信他与工人阶级的团结。Los afectados modales plebeyos del senador —las mangas remangadas, la pinta en el pub— no convencieron a nadie de su solidaridad con la clase obrera.その議員のわざとらしい庶民的な振る舞い——まくり上げた袖、パブでのパイント——は、労働者階級との連帯を誰にも納得させなかった。그 의원의 작위적인 서민적 제스처——걷어 올린 소매, 펍에서의 한 잔——는 노동자 계급과의 연대를 누구에게도 납득시키지 못했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: literary, cultural, political, academic
Tone: critical
Origin & History
From Latin plebeius meaning 'of or belonging to the plebs (the common people),' from plebs meaning 'the populace, the multitude.' Entered English in the mid-16th century; the pejorative cultural sense developed alongside the political one.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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