polis
[poh-lis]
- an ancient Greek city-state.
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Origin of polis
1890–95; < Greek pólis, plural (Ionic) póleis
-polis
- a combining form, meaning “city,” appearing in loanwords from Greek (metropolis), and used in the formation of placenames (Annapolis).
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Origin of -polis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for polis
Contemporary Examples
His father coined the word “poliatrist”, meaning a healer of the polis or city.
Frank is retiring, Baldwin is running for the Senate, and Polis and Ciciline are up for reelection.
Historical Examples
I allow them this house to meet in, bekaise it's large and far from the polis.
The Tithe-ProctorWilliam Carleton
She longed to be in the Polis again, among civilized people.
The Saracen: The Holy WarRobert Shea
If only he were Greek, what a fighter for the Polis he would be.
The Saracen: The Holy WarRobert Shea
The Polis was the hub of the world, the fulfillment of all desires.
The Saracen: Land of the InfidelRobert Shea
And her place in the Polis was dependent on the basileus, Michael.
The Saracen: Land of the InfidelRobert Shea
polis1
- an ancient Greek city-state
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Word Origin
from Greek: city
polis2
- Scot and Irish the police or a police officer
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Word Origin
C19: a variant pronunciation of police
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for polis
n.
"ancient Greek city-state," 1894, from Greek polis "city, one's city; the state, citizens," from PIE *pele- "citadel, enclosed space, often on high ground" (cf. Sanskrit pur, puram "city, citadel," Lithuanian pilis "fortress").
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-polis
word-forming element meaning "City," from Greek polis "city" (see polis).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper