populous, a.
(ˈpɒpjʊləs)
Forms: 5–7 populus, 6 -os, (peopulous, Sc. popelus, pepulus), 6–7 populouse, 6– populous.
[ad. L. populōs-us (Appuleius c 160), f. popul-us people: see -ous. Cf. F. populeux (1564 in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. Full of people or inhabitants; having many inhabitants, absolutely or in proportion to area, etc.; thickly inhabited; fully occupied.
| 1449 J. Metham Amor & Cleopes 302 This cuntre was gret & populus. 1538 Starkey England i. iii. 75 The cuntrey hath byn more populos, then hyt ys now. 1549 Compl. Scot. i. 20 The maist pepulus toune abufe the eird. 1555 Eden Decades 6 An other Ilande which the captyues sayde to bee verye peopulous. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 477 The whole space betweene is as a continuall populous Market. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. II. 2 How populous of Mortals must be the Court of Pluto? how solitary that of Jupiter? 1880 Haughton Phys. Geog. iv. 190 The rivers on the west coast..running through more populous districts. |
b. transf. and fig. Of animals or things.
| 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 321 As habitable a Part of the Microcosme or little World as any, for abilities or vertues, though not so Populous. 1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 175 The river,..with many populous communities of the beaver along its banks. 18.. W. Sawyer New Year Numbers iv, The rain-drop glitters populous with life. |
c. Of a time or season: Productive, prolific.
| 1789 Gibbon Let. 28 Mar. in Sotheby's Sale Catal. 21 May (1900) 43, The Autumn was remarkably populous in such Englishmen as I am not ashamed to acknowledge in foreign countries. 1820 Hazlitt Lect. Dram. Lit. 12 There is no time more populous of intellect,..than the one we are speaking of. |
† 2. Of a body of people: Numerous, abundant.
| 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) III. 157 And tuke thame baith,..With his power quhilk wes richt populos. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII 43 Furnished with a populous army. 1652–62 Heylin Cosmogr. ii. (1682) 212 The over⁓throw of the populous Navy of Xerxes. 1662 Hibbert Body Div. i. 276 A populous posterity is the blessing of God. |
3. Of or pertaining to the populace: = popular a., in various senses. Obs. exc. poet.
| 1592 Arden of Feversham i. iii. B iv, It should have bene some fine confection,..This powder was to grosse and populos. 1638 Penit. Conf. vi. (1657) 102 Mine Author avoucheth it rather for a populous rumor. 1721 Amherst Terræ Fil. No. 35 (1726) 190 A populous scandal was invented and reported about town. 1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, III. ix. 200 The courtly flattery and the populous shout died away together. 1851 Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi W. ii. 35 Between those populous rough hands Raised in the sun, Duke Leopold outleant, And took the patriot's oath. |
Hence ˈpopulously adv., in a populous manner or degree.
| 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 562 Jewes,..in such infinite numbers, that scarce no Towne nor Village, but is very populously replenished with their families. |