Tribe Comes From the Three Original Roman Groups
A tribe is a social group sharing ancestry or culture. The Latin word may refer to Rome's three founding divisions.
A tribe is a social group united by ancestry, culture or common leadership. Latin *tribus* named the divisions of the Roman people, and the traditional explanation connects it to *tres*, three, from the city's three original groupings — though scholars are not certain. The Roman *tribunus* was the officer of a tribe, giving English *tribune*, and payments made to a superior gave *tribute*. Anthropologists now use *tribe* cautiously, since it was often applied unevenly to non-European societies.
- A social group. *A nomadic tribe.*
- Tribal — the adjective. *Tribal custom.*
- Tribune — a Roman officer. *A tribune.*
- Tribute — a payment. *Pay tribute.*
- Latin — *tribus*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | tribe | A tribe. |
| Plural | tribes | Tribes. |
| Adjective | tribal | Tribal. |
| Related | tribune | A tribune. |
| Related | tribute | Tribute. |
- The tribe moved with the seasons.Society.
- Tribunes represented the plebeians.Rome.
- Tribute was paid to the emperor.Related.
The tribus family
- Tribe — a division of a people
- Tribune — the officer representing a tribe
- Tribute — payment rendered by one group to another
- Attribute — to assign to someone
- Contribute — to give along with others
Latin *tribus*, one of the divisions of the Roman people, traditionally linked to *tres*, three.
Are tribe and tribute related?
Yes. Tribute was originally the payment rendered by a tribe to a ruling power.
Why is tribe used cautiously now?
Because it was applied unevenly, most often to non-European societies, in ways that implied a hierarchy of social development.