perioeci: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowAcademic, historical; formal
Quick answer
What does “perioeci” mean?
The free inhabitants of ancient Laconia who were not Spartan citizens and lived in the surrounding territories.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The free inhabitants of ancient Laconia who were not Spartan citizens and lived in the surrounding territories.
By extension, any neighboring or dependent people in a similar social position in other ancient Greek states.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage, spelling, or pronunciation.
Connotations
Historical, academic; denotes a specific social class in ancient Sparta.
Frequency
Equally rare in both British and American English, confined to historical or classical studies.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in historical studies of ancient Greece, particularly Spartan society.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “perioeci”
- Misspelling as 'perioeci' vs. 'perioikoi' (the Greek term), or confusing with 'helots'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The perioeci were the free inhabitants of ancient Laconia who were not Spartan citizens, living in the surrounding territories and engaging in trade and crafts.
In British English, it is pronounced /ˌpɛrɪˈiːsaɪ/; in American English, /ˌpɛriˈiːsaɪ/.
The singular form is 'perioecus', though it is rarely used; the term is typically used in the plural.
It is used almost exclusively in academic or historical contexts when discussing ancient Spartan society.
The free inhabitants of ancient Laconia who were not Spartan citizens and lived in the surrounding territories.
Perioeci is usually academic, historical; formal in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'peri' (around) and 'oeci' (dwellers) – they dwelled around Sparta.
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary role of the perioeci in Spartan society?