acropolis

• akropolis

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀκρόπολις (akrópolis), from ἄκρος (ákros, “topmost”, “tip”, “summit”) + πόλις (pólis, “city”);[1] By surface analysis, acro- +‎ -polis.

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: əkrŏʹpəlĭs, IPA^(key): /əˈkɹɒpəlɪs/,[1]

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acropolis (plural acropolises or acropoleis)

1. A promontory (usually fortified with a citadel) forming the hub of many Grecian cities, and around which many were built for defensive purposes before and during the classical period; compare Acropolis.
   • 1850, Karl Otfried Müller, John Leitch, transl., Ancient Art and Its Remains; or, A Manual of the Archæology of Art‎, page 146:

     The Etruscans, then, appear in general as an industrious people ( φιλότεχνον ἔθνος), of a bold and lofty spirit of enterprise, which was greatly favoured by their priestly aristocratic constitution. Massive walls, mostly of irregular blocks, surround their cities (not merely their acropoleis); the art of protecting the country from inundations by the construction of canals, and outlets from lakes, was very zealously practised by them.

• acropolitan (pertaining adjective)
• acropoli (non-standard plural)

• prosocial