demos
nounUK /ˈdiːmɒs/ · US /ˈdiˌmɑs/
Etymology From Ancient Greek δῆμος (dêmos, “ordinary citizens, common people from a district, in a city-state”). Doublet of deme.
1
An ancient subdivision of Attica; (now also) a Greek municipality, an administrative area covering a city or several villages together.
2
Political science, Social sciences The ordinary citizens of an ancient Greek city-state; hence, the common populace of a state or district (especially a democratic one); the people.
- When the demos took charge, law and order inevitably collapsed, or so they concluded.2007, Tim Blanning, The Pursuit of Glory, Penguin, published 2008, page 323: