polis Hear it!

polis Definition

po·lis (lis)

noun pl. poleis po′·leis′ (-līs′)

in ancient Greece, a city-state

Etymology: Gr polis: see police

polis Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • call: The best you can hope fur is that they call the polis, the worst is that you'll get yer heid kicked in.

Adjective modifier

  • Greek: The Hellenistic City This course explores the role of the city, the Greek polis, in the Hellenistic world.
  • classical: The lands through which Io is to travel are devoid of the civil and religious institutions of the classical Greek polis and oikos.
  • Hellenistic: Dr. Ma concentrates on ancient Greek history; his particular interests are Asia Minor, Greek epigraphy and the Hellenistic polis.
  • democratic: When the plays were performed for the entire democratic polis the experiences of audience members were, of necessity, not equal.

Modifies a noun

  • holiday: Polis holidays offer a rather more authentic experience of Cyprus than the bigger beach resorts.
  • man: The polis man waves his flashlight in a manner which appears to indicate that you are to maintain your speed and drive by.