1.CLASS IN SOCIETYan insulting word for someone who is from a low social class 下层平民〔侮辱性用语〕
2.SSan ordinary person who had no special rank in ancient Rome 〔古罗马的〕平民,庶民OPP patrician
Examples from the Corpus
plebeian• Both nobles and plebeiansquench the thirst of their lust here.• As Godoy claimed, the Tumult of Aranjuez was the work of seducedplebeians, a revolution that seeped down from above.• These first few lines are very formal, perhaps too formal for the plebeians.• Presently he soon takes advantage of the simplicity of the plebeians.• Shakespeare emphasizes how strongly the plebeians are in favour of Brutus when Antony begins to speak.• Both speakers are trying to establish their own power by appealing to the plebeians whose support they totally depend on.• The plebeians are a bitthick, as they didn't see through Caesar.
Originplebeian2
(1500-1600)Latinplebeius, from plebs“common people”