demotic

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Contents

English [edit]

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Etymology [edit]

First attested in 1822, from Ancient Greek δημοτικός (demotikos, common), from δημότης (demotes, commoner), from δῆμος (demos, the common people).

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (UK) IPA: /dɪ.ˈmɒ.tɪk/
  • (US) IPA: /dɪ.mɑ.tɪk/

Adjective [edit]

demotic (not comparable)

  1. Of or for the common people.
  2. Of, relating to, or written in the vulgar form of ancient Egyptian hieratic writing.
    demotic script is a simplified, cursive form of hieroglyphs used in ancient egypt.
  3. Of, relating to, or written in the form of modern vernacular Greek.
    demotic Greek

Synonyms [edit]

  • (of the vulgar form of hieratic writing): enchorial

Translations [edit]

Noun [edit]

demotic (plural demotics)

  1. (linguistics) Language as spoken by the common people.
    • 2010, John C. Wells, accents map
      Note the intrusion into British demotic (“me and Cheryl were having”) of the valley-girl quotative be, like.

Derived terms [edit]

demotist

Translations [edit]