plebiscitumn.
/ˌpliːbᵻˈsʌɪtəm/, /ˌplɛbᵻˈsʌɪtəm/, U.S. /ˌplɛbəˈsaɪdəm/ 1. Roman Law. A law enacted by the plebeians' assembly; = plebiscite n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > [noun] > a legislative enactment > of the Roman plebs
plebiscite1533
plebiscitum1583
1583 Sir T. Smith's De Republica Anglorum i. vii. 6 The Emperours claime this tyrannicall power by pretence of that Rogation or plebiscitum, which Caius Cæsar or Octauius obtained.
1602 L. Lloyd Briefe Conf. Divers Lawes 133 The law called Plebiscita, made by the Tribune of the people, could not be allowed vnlesse it were confirmed by the Senators.
1656 J. Harrington Common-wealth of Oceana 57 A Council where the People in Exigencies made Lawes without the Senate; which Lawes were called Plebiscita.
1698 T. Hearne Ductor Historicus I. iii. xviii. 388 Within this Period the Plebeians procured the Plebiscita to pass into Laws, and to bind the Patritians.
1774 S. Hallifax Anal. Rom. Civil Law 7 Plebiscitum is, what was enacted by the Plebeians, assembled at the Comitia Tributa.
1822 N. Amer. Rev. Jan. 213 The Silian plebiscitum..of the year 509..declares, that a quadrantal of wine shall be eighty pounds.
1890 Eng. Hist. Rev. 19 473 It was the concurring vote of the senate which gave to the plebiscitum the force of law.
1955 Jrnl. Rom. Stud. 45 92 The constitutional position of M. Minucius as a result of the plebiscitum of Metilius in 217 B.C. has never been satisfactorily defined.
1998 Jerusalem Post (Nexis) 26 June 9 The Romans left some decisions to the larger citizenry through the plebiscitum rather than the senatus consultum process.
2. Politics. A direct vote of all the members of an electorate to decide a question of public importance; (also) an expression of popular opinion; = plebiscite n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > [noun] > expressed by a group
voice?a1400
plebiscitum1855
the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > referendum or plebiscite
referendum1816
plebiscitum1855
plebiscite1860
preferendum1970
1855 C. Kingsley in N. Brit. Rev. May 38/1 A terrible plebiscitum had been passed in the West country against the betrayer of its last Worthy.
1864 Spectator 443 Physical force is not all on the side of the tyrants, nor does a plebiscitum invariably sanction only a crime.
1869 Pall Mall Gaz. 4 Aug. 2 If Louis Napoleon means to give the Liberal empire a fair trial, he will..‘go to the country’, not by the outworn and exploded device of a plebiscitum, but by a general election, conducted under the auspices of public liberty.
1934 Eng. Hist. Rev. 49 138 The constitutions were..the outcome of historical accidents which may happen in any State... They supply data to fortify such propositions as the futility of popular plebiscita.
1997 BBC Summary of World Broadcasts (Nexis) 26 May In addition to depreciating Slovakia's interest, the failure of such plebiscita also means a dishonour to the Slovak constitution.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1583