metic

metic
/met"ik/, n.
an alien resident of an ancient Greek city who paid a tax for the right to live there.
[1800-10; < LL metycus, var. of metoecus < Gk métoikos emigrant, equiv. to met- MET- + -oikos dwelling]

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(Greek, metoikos) Any resident foreigner, including freed slaves, in ancient Greece.

Although metics were free, they lacked full benefits of citizenship. For a small tax they enjoyed the protection of the law and most of a citizen's duties, including supporting public funds, financing festivals, and serving in the military, but they could neither marry a citizen nor own land. They were found in most states, Sparta being an exception. In Athens they represented one-third of the free population.

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▪ ancient Greek society
Greek  Metoikos,  

      in ancient Greece, any of the resident aliens, including freed slaves. Metics were found in most states except Sparta. In Athens, where they were most numerous, they occupied an intermediate position between visiting foreigners and citizens, having both privileges and duties. They were a recognized part of the community and specially protected by law, although subject to restrictions on marriage and property ownership. A significant source of manpower and skilled labour, they constituted a large part of the population of Athens by the 5th century BC. Cephalus, father of Lysias and a metic, was a character in Plato's Republic; Pasion, a metic and former slave, became a great Athenian banker of the 4th century BC.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Metic — Met ic (? or ?; 277), n. [Gr. ?, prop., changing one s abode; ?, indicating change + ? house, abode: cf. L. metoecus, F. m[ e]t[ e]que.] (Gr. Antiq.) A sojourner; an immigrant; an alien resident in a Grecian city, but not a citizen. Mitford.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • metic — (n.) resident alien in an ancient Greek state, 1808, from L.L. metycus, from Gk. metoikos, lit. one who has changed his residence, from meta change (see META (Cf. meta )) + oikos dwelling, from oikein to dwell (see VILLA (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • Metic — Not to be confused with Métis. In ancient Greece, the term metic (Greek métoikos: from metá, indicating change, and oîkos dwelling )[1] referred to a resident alien, one who did not have citizen rights in his or her Greek city state (polis) of… …   Wikipedia

  • Metic — En la Antigua Grecia, el término metic significaba simplemente un extranjero, un no griego, viviendo en una de las ciudades estado griegas. La palabra no tenia el significado peyorativo que tiene hoy día. Etimológicamente, la palabra viene del… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • metic — noun In ancient Greece, a resident alien who did not have citizen rights and who paid a tax for the right to live there …   Wiktionary

  • metic — [ mɛtɪk] noun a foreigner living in an ancient Greek city who had some of the privileges of citizenship. Origin C19: formed irregularly from Gk metoikos, from meta (expressing change) + oikos dwelling …   English new terms dictionary

  • metic — met·ic …   English syllables

  • metic — /ˈmɛtɪk/ (say metik) noun Ancient History a resident alien in a Greek city, granted some rights although without citizenship. {Greek metikos, from meta along with, acompanying + oikos, house, home} …  

  • metic — n. Gk Antiq. an alien living in a Greek city with some privileges of citizenship. Etymology: irreg. f. Gk metoikos (as META , oikos dwelling) …   Useful english dictionary

  • cosˌmetic ˈsurgery — noun [U] medical operations that improve someone s appearance …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

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