People Definition

people

English

Etymology

From Middle English peple, peeple, from Anglo-Norman people, from Old French pueple, peuple, pople (modern French peuple), from Latin populus "people", of unknown origin. Probably of non-Indo-European origin, from Etruscan. Gradually ousted native Middle English lede, leed (“people”) (from Old English lēode).

Originally a singular noun (eg. The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness --2 Samuel 17:29, King James Version), the plural aspect of people is probably due to influence from Middle English lede, leed, a plural since Old English times (compare Old English lēode (“people, men, persons”), plural of Old English lēod (“man, person”)). See also lede, leod.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈpiːpəl/, SAMPA: /"pi:p@l/
• (US) IPA: /ˈpipəl/, /ˈpipl̩/, SAMPA: /"pip@l/, /"pipl=/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (UK)

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• Rhymes: -iːpəl
• Hyphenation: peo‧ple

Noun

people (plural common noun and collective noun (plural peoples))

1. used as plural of person; a body of human beings considered generally or collectively; a group of two or more persons.
   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice:

     "What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."

2. (plural peoples) Persons forming or belonging to a particular group, such as a nation, class, ethnic group, country, family, etc; folk; community.
3. A group of persons regarded as being employees, followers, companions or subjects of a ruler.
   • 1611, Old Testament, King James Version, 2 Samuel 8:15,

     And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.[1]

   • 1952, Old Testament, Revised Standard Version, Thomas Nelson & Sons, Isaiah 1:3,

     The ox knows its owner, and the ass its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people does not understand.

4. One's colleagues or employees.
   • 2001, Vince Flynn, Transfer of Power, p. 250:

     Kennedy looked down at Flood's desk and thought about the possibilities. "Can you locate him?" "I already have my people checking on all [it]."

   • 2008, Fern Michaels, Hokus Pokus‎, p. 184:

     Can I have one of my people get back to your people, Mr. President?" She tried to slam the phone back into the base and failed.

5. A person's ancestors, relatives or family.

   My people lived through the Black Plague and the Thirty Years War.

6. The mass of a community as distinguished from a special class (elite); the commonalty; the populace; the vulgar; the common crowd; the citizens.

Synonyms

• (plural of person, human beings): lede (leod)
• (persons belonging to a group): collective, community, congregation, folk, nation, clan, tribe, race, class, caste, club
• (followers): fans, groupies, supporters
• (ancestors or relatives): kin, kith, folks
• (mass of a community): populace, commoners, citizenry

Derived terms

• peeps
• people's army
• people's democracy
• people's republic
• people's war
• peoplehood
• peopleless

Verb

people (third-person singular simple present peoples, present participle peopling, simple past and past participle peopled)

1. (transitive) To stock with people or inhabitants; to fill as with people; to populate.
   • 1674, John Dryden, The State of Innocence and the Fall of Man, Act II, Scene I:

     He would not be alone, who all things can; / But peopled Heav'n with Angels, Earth with Man.

2. (intransitive) To become populous or populated.
3. (transitive) To inhabit; to occupy; to populate.
   • a. 1645, John Milton, Il Penseroso, lines 7–8:

     […] / As thick and numberless / As the gay motes that people the Sun Beams, / […]

Derived terms

• peopler

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

References

• people in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Statistics

• Most common English words before 1923: here · thought · found · #140: people · still · just · while

French

Alternative forms

• pipole

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pi.pɔl/

Etymology

From English people.

Noun

people m. (plural peoples)

1. (countable) A celebrity, a famous person.
   • 2004, Emmanuel Davidenkoff and Didier Hassoux, Luc Ferry: une comédie du pouvoir, 2002–2004 (Luc Ferry: A Comedy of Power, 2002–2004), Hachette, ISBN 9782012357785,

     Le novice en politique contre le mammouth « Éducation nationale ». Ça mérite la sympathie. Et puis c’est un people. Les gens aiment et détestent à la fois. Ils sont fascinés. Le bonheur sur papier glacé. Les vacances entre Saint-Trop’, la Martinique et Deauville.

     The political novice against the mammoth "National Education". That merited sympathy. Then, too, he was a celebrity. People loved and hated at the same time. They were fascinated. Happiness on ice paper. Vacations between Saint-Tropez, Martinique, and Deauville.

   • 2008, Martine Delvaux, "L’égoïsme romantique de Frédéric Beigbeder" ("Frédéric Beigbeder's L’égoïsme romantique (Romantic Egotism)"), in Alain-Philippe Durand (editor), Frédéric Beigbeder et ses doubles (Frédéric Beigbeder and His Doubles), Rodopi, ISBN 978-90-420-2472-4, page 95:

     Oscar Dufresne est un people anti-people, un macho impuissant, un intellectuel qui ne dit rien d’intelligent, un faux sadique et un faux masochiste, un anti-autobiographe.

     Oscar Dufresne is a celebrity who is anti-celebrity, a powerless macho man, an intellectual who says nothing intelligent, a fake sadist and a fake masochist, an anti-autobiographer.

Usage notes

• The French noun people is frequently italicized as a loanword, as in the quotations above.

Synonyms

• (a celebrity): célébrité, personne connue, personnalité, personnage public

Derived terms

• pipolisation

Related 'People' Searches:

See Also:

• Arts: Music: People
• Arts: People
• Arts: People: Regional
• Home: Gardening: People
• Society: People
• Society: People: Furry
• Society: People: Men
• Society: People: Women
• Sports: People
• Sports: People: Fans