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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Popular, adj. and n. Also: -are, -aire. [e.m.E. populer (1490), -ar (1548), adj., also (a 1577) noun, L. populāris adj. belonging to the people (f. populus people), whence also OF populeir, -ere (mod. F. populaire).] Popular. A. adj.

1. Of, or by, the common people or the people in general; of the populace, folk, plebeian. 1533 Bell. Livy I 226/20.
The consulis … estymeis na thing les than ws that ar discendit of lynage populare Ib. II 175/9.
This sentence was leist apprisit for it made the senate populare 1581 Burne in Cath. Tr. 170/20.
Na stranger … can discerne betuix the popular and vsurpit estait of the daft abbottis, gukkit prioris, guseheaddit personis [etc.] 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 74/6.
The reformation of religion in Skotlande being maid be a populaire … rebellion 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 70 b.
Clamour, crying and voice popular sould follow ane manslayer

b. Adapted to ordinary people. c. Calculated to earn the favour of the populace or of the common people. c1590 Fowler I 16.
I wes spurred … be translatioun to mak thame sum what more populare then they ar in thair Italian originall 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 181/1.
Be not … prodigall in iouking, or nodding at euerie steppe, for that forme of being populaire becummis bettir aspiring Absalons then laufull kings

2. Of preaching. a. ? Before the people of a parish (cf. b below and Popularlie adv.), or ? in sense 1 b above. 1607 Rothiemay Kirk S. in J. Gordon Hist. I App. li.
Mr. William Reid teichit 2 Thessa. 2 cap ver 13 popular doctrin

b. Popular sermon, a sermon preached before the people of a parish by a candidate for the ministry as part of his trials.In contradistinction to the other trials which were held before the presbytery alone.See also Popularlie adv. 1662 Lamont Diary 158.
Mr. James Weyms … who passed his tryalls to be minister of St. Leonards church … The said Mr. James Weyms, regent, had his popular sermon in the towne church of St. Androws Ib.
This popular sermon 1663 Alford Rec. 16.
And Mr. William Burnett to have a popular sermon Matt. 24, 37, as the nixt part of his tryall Ib. 12, 18, etc. 1664 Dundee Presb. in W.C. Skinner Barronie of Hilltowne (1927) 164.
Mr. Wm. Skinner … was … appointed to hear his populare sermon, tryal of tongues and questions the morrow 20 dayes 1664 Dunkeld Presb. II 7 n. 1666 Min. Glasgow Presb. 24 Oct. 1683 Alford Rec. 352.
Mr. Robert Cheyne had a popular sermon on Matthew 5. 48, and was approven in this and the rest of his tryals, and appointed to have a recommendation to the Lord Bishop for licence to preach publicklie 1684 Dunkeld Presb. I 228.

3. Popolous. = Popul(o)us adj. c1679 Kirkton Hist. 215.
In the spring they disarmed the whole west countrey, the most popular part of Scotland 1689 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 261.
It cannot be expected but all popular elections must be tumultuous much more in such a popular cittie as Edinburgh

B. noun.

1. One of the common people, a commoner.Only in Bk. Chess, applied to the pawns in chess. a1500 Bk. Chess 51.
The secund part … the manere of nobillis king & qwene … The thrid part sall sum mencioun mak Of aucht popularis that bene thaim with Ib. 2026.
The popular befor the lord he standis Ib. 1311, 2162.

2. coll. The common people, commonalty, populace. a1578 Pitsc. I 135/29 (I) (see Popularie n.).
The popular 1591 Lothian and Tweeddale Synod 28.
It was laid unto the charge that the popular for the maist part wer fostereris of superstitioun about pasche, yool and uther tymesb. In the phr. commoun popular it is wholly unclear which of the constituents is to be taken as the n. (cf. Commoun n. 2) and which the adj. (cf. Commoun adj. 1 and A 1 above). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2359.
So doith our commoun populare Ib. 5339.
Cunnyng clerkis hes … comparit The sonne to the stait spirituall, The mone to princis temporall … [and] the sterris … To the lawd common populare 1584–5 Inverness Rec. I 297.
In presens of the commoun popular being present at the tyme 1595 Anderson Winter Night 24.
Inspire the common populare

3. = Popular sermon, A 2 b above. 1663 Dunkeld Presb. II ii n.
A letter from my Lord St. Andrews … to enter the said Mr. Androw Bruice upon the publick exercise, ore upon a popular onlie