I.nom. plur. poploe, Carm. Sal. ap. Fest. p. 205 Müll.; v. pilumnoe) [from root pleof pleo; v. plenus], i, m., a people, the people.
I. Lit.
A. In gen. (cf.: “gens, natio): res publica res populi: populus autem non omnis hominum coetus quoquo modo congregatus, sed coetus multitudinis juris consensu et utilitatis communione sociatus,” Cic. Rep. 1, 25, 39: “populus Romanus,” id. Phil. 6, 5, 12: exspectabat populus, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 90 Vahl.): “tene magis salvum populus velit an populum tu,” Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 27: casci populi Latini, Enn. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 28 Müll. (Ann. v. 24 Vahl.): “hi populi: Atellani, Calatini, etc.,” Liv. 22, 61 fin.—
B. Esp.
1. The people, opp. to the Senate, in the formula senatus populusque Romanus (abbreviated S. P. Q. R.), saep.; cf.: “et patres in populi fore potestate,” Liv. 2, 56.—
2. Opp. to the plebs: “non enim populi, sed plebis eum (tribunum) magistratum esse,” Liv. 2, 56: “ut ea res populo plebique Romanae bene eveniret,” Cic. Mur. 1, 1.—
3. Rarely for plebs, the populace: “dat populus, dat gratus eques, dat tura senatus,” Mart. 8, 15, 3: urbanus, the citizens (opp. to the military), Nep. Cim. 2, 1.—
II. Transf.
1. A region, district, regarded as inhabited: “frequens cultoribus alius populus,” Liv. 21, 34, 1 (cf. Gr. δῆμος).—
2. A multitude, host, crowd, throng, great number of persons or things (poet. and in postAug. prose): “ratis populo peritura recepto,” i. e. with the great multitude of passengers, Luc. 3, 665: “fratrum,” Ov. H. 14, 115: “in tanto populo sileri parricidium potuit,” Just. 10, 1: “sororum,” Ov. H. 9, 52; App. Mag. p. 304: “apum,” Col. 9, 13, 12: “populus totidem imaginum,” Plin. 33, 9, 45, § 129; Sen. Q. N. 1, 5: “spicarum,” Pall. 7, 2: “scelerum,” Sid. Ep. 6, 1 fin.: “concursus in forum populi,” Liv. 22, 7, 6.—
3. The public, i. e. the open street (poet.): omnis habet geminas janua frontis, E quibus haec populum spectat; “at illa Larem,” Ov. F. 1, 136.
