plebs (in inscriptions often PLEPS), -bis, and archaic plēbēs (‡ plēbis), is and ĕi (plebium, Prud. στεφ. 10, 709: plebibus, Aug. Ep. 166), f. [root ple-, fill; whence Gr. πίμπλημι, πλήρης; cf. πλῆ θος, multitude].
I Lit., the common people , the commons or commonalty , the plebeians (opp. the patricians, senators, and knights; whereas populus signifies the collective people, including, therefore, the Senate), Cic. Leg. 3, 3, 10: plebes in hoc regi antistat loco, licet Lacrumare plebi, regi honeste non licet, Enn. ap. Hier. Epit. Nep. p. 590 Mign. (Trag. v. 271 Vahl.): plebs a populo eo differt quo species a genere: nam appellatione populi universi cives significantur, connumeratis etiam patriciis et senatoribus: plebis autem appellatione sine patribus et senatu ceteri cives significantur, Just. Inst. 1, 2, 4; cf. Gai. Inst. 1, 3: plebes dominandi studio permota a patribus secessit, Sall. C. 33, 3: ita tribuni plebei creati duo, Liv. 2, 33, 2: dum decem tribunos plebi faceret, id. 3, 65, 4: non enim populi, sed plebis eum (sc.: tribunum plebis) magistratum esse, Liv. 2, 56: populo plebique Romanae, Cic. Mur. 1, 1: in duas partes ego civitatem divisam arbitror in patres, et plebem, Sall. Or. ad Caes. 2, 5; Liv. 2, 56: Martia Roma triplex equitatu, plebe, senatu, Aus. Idyll. 11, 78.—
II Transf., in gen.
A The great mass , the multitude : in Hyrcaniā, plebs publicos alit canes, optimates domesticos, Cic. Tusc. 1, 45, 108: plebem et infimam multitudinem delinire, id. Mil. 35, 95.—
B With accessory notion of contempt, the populace , the lower class or order , the mass (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): multitudo de plebe, Liv. 5, 39: si quadringentis sex septem millia desunt, Plebs eris, you shall be plebeian , Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 59: misera, id. S. 1, 8, 10: ventosa, id. Ep. 1, 19, 37: immensa nimiaque, Juv. 11, 194.—Among the gods: plebs Superūm, Fauni, Satyrique, Laresque, Fluminaque, et Nymphae, Semideūmque genus, Ov. Ib. 81.—Of bees, a stock , swarm , hive (meaning the great mass, opp. to the queen); in plur. (rare): tres alveorum plebes, Col. 9, 11, 1: corona plebium, Prud. στεφ. 10, 709.—
C The whole people , nation , community , = populus (late Lat.), Vulg. Gen. 23, 13: plebs tua Israel, id. Luc. 2, 32 et saep.