hoi polloi

== English == === Alternative forms === polloi === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek οἱ πολλοί (hoi polloí, “the many”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈhɔɪ pəˌlɔɪ/ Rhymes: -ɔɪ === Noun === hoi polloi pl (plural only) (collective) The common people; the masses. (Used with or without the definite article.) Synonyms: see Thesaurus:commonalty Antonym: elite 1953 January, District of Columbia Library Association in Washington, D.C. Libraries, volume 24, number 1, page 1 But what, pray tell, is a “librarian”? Consult the same infallible source and you will learn: “One who has the care or charge of a library.” And where does that leave the most of us, hoi great unwashed polloi who have neither the “care” nor the “charge” of a library? (nonstandard, see Usage notes) The elite. ==== Usage notes ==== Since οἱ (hoi) is a definite article in Ancient Greek, some authorities consider the English construction the hoi polloi redundant (equivalent to "the the many/masses") and say it should not be used. In practice, the term usually is preceded by the (as the OED and Merriam-Webster also say). Compare alcohol, algebra. The second definition contradicts the first; it arose from a misunderstanding of the term, probably under influence of such terms as hoity-toity, and it is often considered incorrect. ==== Translations ==== === References === == Portuguese == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek οἱ πολλοί (hoi polloí, “the many”) === Noun === hoi polloi m (uncountable) hoi polloi (the common people) Synonyms: plebe, gentalha