metic

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   in an ancient Greek city-state, a resident foreigner who lacked full citizen rights and usually paid a special tax

   A metic in classical Athens could conduct business but could not vote in the assembly.

From Late Latin metoecus, from Greek metoikos ("settler, resident alien"), combining meta- ("change; among") with oikos ("house, dwelling"). In Athens, metics formed a legally distinct class from citizens and enslaved people.

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