plebiscite

Where does the word "plebiscite" come from? It comes from Latin plebs, passing through French before entering English (1700s).

Plebiscite’s story begins in Latin: plebs meant “the common people.” The common people, combined with scitum (a decree). By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as plebiscite. Carried into French political vocabulary for a direct vote of the people. It reached English by 1700s as plebiscite. Settled as the English word for a direct popular vote on an important issue. Today, plebiscite means a direct vote by the electorate on a specific political proposal.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient plebs "the common people", the common people, combined with scitum (a decree).
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s plebiscite "a direct vote of the common people", carried into French political vocabulary for a direct vote of the people.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s plebiscite "a direct popular vote on an important political question", settled as the English word for a direct popular vote on an important issue.