Where does “plebiscite” come from?
Plebiscite comes from Middle French plébiscite, derived from Latin plebs meaning "the common people," which traces back through Proto-Italic plēðwēs to Proto-Indo-European pl̥h₁dʰwḗh₂s.
plebiscite (English): A referendum, especially one that concerns...
Definitions
- A referendum, especially one that concerns...
Ancestry of “plebiscite”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | plébiscite | plebiscite; first-person singular present... |
| 2 | Latin | plēbiscītum | plebiscite, decree of the people, which originally applied only to the plēbs and not the patricians |
| 3 | Latin | scitum | A resolution of a popular governing body;... |
| 4 | Latin | sciō | to be able to, to know, understand, to have practical knowledge |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱēy- | to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | skaidą | separation, distinction |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | skÁit- | to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,... |