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'''Hoi polloi''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: οι πολλοι), an expression meaning "the many" in [[Ancient Greek]], is used in [[English language|English]] to denote "the masses" or "the people," usually in a derogatory sense. Since "hoi" means "the," it |
'''Hoi polloi''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: οι πολλοι), an expression meaning "the many" in [[Ancient Greek]], is used in [[English language|English]] to denote "the masses" or "the people," usually in a derogatory sense. Since "hoi" means "the," it might be said that the common usage of ''the hoi polloi'' is incorrect. However, this later usage is very well-established and it is often the case that phrases borrowed from other languages become treated as single words in English.{{ref|AHD01}} |
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==Notes== |
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#{{note|AHD01}} [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hoi%20polloi American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition] |
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#{{note|AHD01}} Ibid. |
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[[Category:Greek phrases]] |
[[Category:Greek phrases]] |
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Revision as of 01:17, 5 November 2005
Hoi polloi (Greek: οι πολλοι), an expression meaning "the many" in Ancient Greek, is used in English to denote "the masses" or "the people," usually in a derogatory sense. Since "hoi" means "the," it might be said that the common usage of the hoi polloi is incorrect. However, this later usage is very well-established and it is often the case that phrases borrowed from other languages become treated as single words in English.[1]
The phrase is often misused to refer to the upper class, which is the opposite of its actual meaning. [2]
Notes
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