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Webster 1913 Edition

Vulgar

Vul′gar

,
Adj.
[L.
vulgaris
, from
vulgus
the multitude, the common people; of uncertain origin: cf. F.
vulgaire
. Cf.
Divulge
.]
1.
Of or pertaining to the mass, or multitude, of people; common; general; ordinary; public; hence, in general use; vernacular.
“As common as any the most vulgar thing to sense. ”
Shak.
Things
vulgar
, and well-weighed, scarce worth the praise.
Milton.
It might be more useful to the English reader . . . to write in our
vulgar
language.
Bp. Fell.
The mechanical process of multiplying books had brought the New Testament in the
vulgar
tongue within the reach of every class.
Bancroft.
2.
Belonging or relating to the common people, as distinguished from the cultivated or educated; pertaining to common life; plebeian; not select or distinguished; hence, sometimes, of little or no value.
“Like the vulgar sort of market men.”
Shak.
Men who have passed all their time in low and
vulgar
life.
Addison.
In reading an account of a battle, we follow the hero with our whole attention, but seldom reflect on the
vulgar
heaps of slaughter.
Rambler.
3.
Hence, lacking cultivation or refinement; rustic; boorish; also, offensive to good taste or refined feelings; low; coarse; mean; base;
as,
vulgar
men, minds, language, or manners
.
Be thou familiar, but by no means
vulgar
.
Shakespeare
Vulgar fraction
.
(Arith.)
See under
Fraction
.

Vul′gar

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
vulgaire
.]
1.
One of the common people; a vulgar person.
[Obs.]
These vile
vulgars
are extremely proud.
Chapman.
2.
The vernacular, or common language.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Vulgar

VULGAR

,
Adj.
1.
Pertaining to the common unlettered people; as vulgar life.
2.
Used or practiced by common people; as vulgar sports.
3.
Vernacular; national.
It might be more useful to the English reader, to write in our vulgar language.
4.
Common; used by all classes of people; as the vulgar version of the scriptures.
5.
Public; as vulgar report.
6.
Mean; rustic; rude; low; unrefined; as vulgar ninds; vulgar manners.
7.
Consisting of common persons.
In reading an account of a battle, we follow the hero with our whole attention, but seldom reflect on the vulgar heaps of slaughter.
Vulgar fractions, in arithmetic, fractions expressed by a numerator and denominator; thus 2/5.

VULGAR

,
Noun.
The common people. [It has no plural termination, but has often a plural verb.]
The vulgar imagine the pretender to have been a child imposed on the nation.

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