I. Of or belonging to the common people or commonalty, plebeian (opp. to patricius), Liv. 4, 4, 11; Cic. Fam. 9, 21: “familia,” id. Mur. 7, 15: “consul,” Liv. 6, 40; 10, 23: Pudicitia, the goddess of Chastity of the plebeians, as there was also a Pudicitia patricia, id. ib.; cf. Fest. p. 237 Müll.: “ludi,” popular sports, shows instituted by the commonalty, Liv. 29, 38 fin.: “fatum (opp. divitibus responsa data),” Juv. 6, 588: “Deciorum animae,” id. 8, 254.—Subst.: plēbēĭus , i, m., a plebeian, Enn. ap. Fest. s. v. mutire, p. 145 Müll. (Trag. v. 376 Vahl.); Paul. Sent. 5, 4, 10.—
II. Transf., in a contemptuous sense, plebeian (opp. to refined, elevated), common, vulgar, mean, low (class.): “quamquam nos videmur tibi plebei et pauperes,” Plaut. Poen. 3, 1, 12: licet concurrant omnes plebei philosophi; “sic enim ii, qui a Platone, et Socrate, et ab eā familiā dissident, appellandi videntur, i. e. the Epicureans),” Cic. Tusc. 1, 23, 55: “purpura plebeia ac paene fusca,” id. Sest. 8, 19: “vina,” Plin. 14, 6, 8, § 69: “charta,” id. 13, 22, 23,—75: “gemma,” id. 37, 9, 45, § 128: “sermo,” Cic. Fam. 9, 21, 3.—Adverb., Petr. 93.
