Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Popular
1.
Of or pertaining to the common people, or to the whole body of the people, as distinguished from a select portion;
“Popular states.” as, the
popular
voice; popular
elections. Bacon.
“So the popular vote inclines.” Milton.
The men commonly held in
popular
estimation are greatest at a distance. J. H. Newman.
2.
Suitable to common people; easy to be comprehended; not abstruse; familiar; plain.
Homilies are plain
popular
instructions. Hooker.
3.
Adapted to the means of the common people; possessed or obtainable by the many; hence, cheap; common; ordinary; inferior;
as,
popular
prices; popular
amusements.The smallest figs, called
popular
figs, . . . are, of all others, the basest and of least account. Holland.
4.
Beloved or approved by the people; pleasing to people in general, or to many people;
as, a
popular
preacher; a popular
law; a popular
administration.5.
Devoted to the common people; studious of the favor of the populace.
[R.]
Such
popular
humanity is treason. Addison.
6.
Prevailing among the people; epidemic;
as, a
. popular
disease[Obs.]
Johnson.
Popular action
(Law)
, an action in which any person may sue for penalty imposed by statute.
Blackstone.
Webster 1828 Edition
Popular
POP'ULAR
,Adj.
1.
Pertaining to the common people; as the popular voice; popular elections. So the popular vote inclines.
2.
Suitable to common people; familiar; plain; easy to be comprehended; not critical or abstruse. Homilies are plain and popular instructions.
3.
Beloved by the people; enjoying the favor of the people; pleasing to people in general; as a popular governor; a popular preacher; a popular ministry; a popular discourse; a popular administration; a popular war or peace. Suspect the man who endeavors to make that popular which is wrong.4.
Ambitious; studious of the favor of the people. A popular man is in truth no better than a prostitute to common fame and to the people.
[This sense is not used. It is more customary to apply this epithet to a person who has already gained the favor of the people.]
5.
Prevailing among the people; extensively prevalent; as a popular disease.6.
In law, a popular action is one which gives a penalty to the person that sues for the same.[Note. Popular, at least in the United States, is not synonymous with vulgar; the latter being applied to the lower classes of people, the illiterate and low bred; the former is applied to all classes, or to the body of the people, including a great portion at least of well educated citizens.]