vulgus

[ vuhl-guhs ]

noun

, plural vul·gus·es

1. the common people; masses.
2. an exercise in Latin formerly required of English public-school pupils.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulgus¹

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1680–90

Example Sentences

That he carried the odi profanum vulgus, et arceo too far cannot for a moment be doubted.

From Project Gutenberg

Turner in 1538 says, "ligustrum arbor est non herba ut literatorū vulgus credit; nihil que minus est quam a Prymerose."

From Project Gutenberg

I said this was a figure of rhetoric, employed by his Lordship ad captandum vulgus.

From Project Gutenberg

Odi profanum vulgus et arceo; hence, ye profane: you would not understand the mighty lesson of the rag tank.

From Project Gutenberg

His work is saturated with that contempt of the profanum vulgus which the profanum vulgus (humanly enough) seldom fails to return.

From Project Gutenberg