petalism

English

Etymology

From Middle French petalisme, and its source, Hellenistic Ancient Greek πεταλισμός (petalismós), from πέταλον (pétalon, “leaf”) (because the ballot for banishment was written on olive leaves).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛtəlɪz(ə)m/

Noun

petalism (countable and uncountable, plural petalisms)

1. (historical) A form of ostracism among the ancient Syracusans by which they temporarily banished a citizen suspected of having dangerous influence or ambition. [from 17th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 32, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     Witnesse the Ostracisme amongst the Athenians, and the Petalisme among the Siracusans.

Anagrams

• implates, laptimes, palmiest, septimal, tilemaps