plebeiate

Noun

plebeiate (plural not attested)

1. (Ancient-Rome, no plural, rare) The class of plebeians or common citizens.
   • Those writers, on the other hand, who take a more aristocratic view of early institutions, and consider the ceorls as an essentially inferior class, would look upon "commendation" as their original and necessary condition. The Roman plebeiate is of course an argument for the latter view.1870, William Francis Allen, “Review of The History of the Norman Conquest of England”, in The North American Review, volume 110, number 227, page 355
   • In the old life of the pagus and the gens, the weaker sought protection of the stronger by a willing vassalage, which ripened, when the state was formed, into the Plebeiate which had its origin in clientship.1901, Abel Greenidge, Roman Public Life, pages 5–6

   Synonyms:

   plebs

   Antonyms:

   patriciate