deme

[ deem ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

one of the administrative divisions of ancient Attica and of modern Greece.
Biology. a local population of organisms of the same kind, especially one in which the genetic mix is similar throughout the group.

deme

/ diːm /

1. (in preclassical Greece) the territory inhabited by a tribe
2. (in ancient Attica) a geographical unit of local government
biology a group of individuals within a species that possess particular characteristics of cytology, genetics, etc

deme

/ dēm /

A small, locally interbreeding group of organisms within a larger population. Demes are isolated reproductively from other members of their species, although the isolation may only be partial and is not necessarily permanent. Because they share a somewhat restricted gene pool, members of a deme generally differ morphologically to some degree from members of other demes.
See also population

Origin of deme¹

First recorded in 1620–30, deme is from the Greek word dêmos a district, the people, commons

Origin of deme¹

C19: from Greek dēmos district in local government, the populace

Mi meoster is to do riht forte demen ant ich deme me seolf ich urh me ne do hit nawt; for al god is of godd we her 190 habbe.

Ne beo we neauer swucche; for enne deme he us muche wur gode ant halt for his dehtren.

To be a citizen of the state it was necessary to be a citizen of a deme.

Albeit some that now see her (for yet she liveth) deme her never to have bene wel visaged.

Surely his keen perception must have suggested to him, as he wrote this passage, "mutato nomine, deme."

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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