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Definition of plebiscite - 5 dictionary results

pleb⋅i⋅scite

  [pleb-uh-sahyt, -sit]
Use plebiscite in a Sentence
–noun
1. a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question.
2. the vote by which the people of a political unit determine autonomy or affiliation with another country.
Origin:
1525–35; < F < L plēbīscītum decree of the plebs, equiv. to plēbī (for plēbis, plēbēī gen. sing. of plēbs, plēbēs plebs ) + scītum resolution, decree, n. use of neut. of scītus, ptp. of scīscere to enact, decree, orig., to seek to know, learn, inchoative of scīre to know
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pleb·i·scite   (plěb'ĭ-sīt', -sĭt)   
n.  
  1. A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal: The new constitution was ratified in a plebiscite.
  2. A vote in which a population exercises the right of national self-determination.

[French plébiscite, from Latin plēbiscītum : plēbis, genitive of plēbs, the people; see pelə-1 in Indo-European roots + scītum, decree, from neuter past participle of scīscere, to vote for, inchoative of scīre, to know; see skei- in Indo-European roots.]
ple·bis'ci·tar'y (plə-bĭs'ĭ-těr'ē, plěb'ĭ-sĭt'ə-rē) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Plebiscite

Pleb"i*scite\, n. [F. pl['e]biscite, fr. L. plebiscitum.] A vote by universal male suffrage; especially, in France, a popular vote, as first sanctioned by the National Constitution of 1791. [Written also plebiscit.]

Plebiscite we have lately taken, in popular use, from the French. --Fitzed. Hall.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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plebiscite [(pleb-uh-seyet, pleb-uh-suht)]

A vote of an entire nation or other large political unit on an issue of great importance. A plebiscite is not an election, for there are no candidates. Rather, people vote yes or no on a proposition.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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plebiscite 
"direct vote of the people," 1860 (originally in ref. to Italian unification), from Fr. plébiscite (1776 in modern sense), from L. plebiscitum "a decree or resolution of the people," from plebs (gen. plebis) "the common people" + scitum "decree," properly neuter pp. of sciscere "to assent, vote for, approve," inchoative of scire "to know" (see science). Used earlier (1533) in a purely Roman historical context.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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