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English

Most common English words: here « thought « found « #140: people » still » just » while

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").

Pronunciation

Noun

Singular people

Plural plural common noun and collective noun (plural peoples)

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.
  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

Derived terms

Verb

Infinitive to people

Third person singular peoples

Simple past peopled

Past participle peopled

Present participle peopling

to 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.
  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

Translations

to fill with people
  • Portuguese: povoar pt(pt)
  • Russian: населять (naselját’)
  • Slovene: naseliti sl(sl)
  • Spanish: poblar con
  • Swedish: befolka
to become populous
  • Dutch: bevolkt worden (literally: “become populated”)
  • Finnish: lisääntyä fi(fi)
  • Norwegian: befolkes no(no)
  • Portuguese: povoar-se pt(pt)
  • Spanish: poblarse es(es)
  • Swedish: befolkas
to inhabit, to occupy
  • German: bewohnen, besiedeln, bevölkern
  • Norwegian: befolke no(no)
  • Swedish: befolka
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.
Translations to be checked
  • Esperanto: popoli (1), popoliĝi (2)

References

French

Alternative spellings

Pronunciation

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

Synonyms

Derived terms

 

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'People' News
The economy can't recover until the economy recovers - Washington Post (blog)
voices.washingtonpost.com
The economy can't recover until the economy recovers - Washington Post (blog)
Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:16:16 GMT+00:00
Washington Post (blog) A strong economy, after all, can withstand small shocks, and thus people wouldn't need to be so afraid of, say, Greece's budget. ... Research desk: How much do the Bush tax cuts help small businesses? Washington Post (blog) The Morning Plum Washington Post (blog) Why Congress Must End Bush Tax Breaks for the Rich Huffington Post (blog) NPR  - Wall Street Journal
Google News Search: people,
Thu Jul 29 17:04:21 2010
'People' Images
People
behance.vo.llnwd.net
People
424px x 600px | 104.80kB

[source page]

People

Yahoo Images Search: people,
Mon Jul 26 16:57:42 2010
'People' Blogs
Why fad diets work for some people , but not others
blog.taragana.com
Why fad diets work for some people , but not others

Ani

hu, 29 Jul 2010 06:35:01 GM

Washington - Ever wondered why despite a strict diet, even a tiny bite of cake adds pounds to you? Blame your genes, says a new study.

Google Blogs Search: people,
Thu Jul 29 13:00:20 2010
'People' Answers
What makes people physically attracted to certain people but not others?
Q. How is it that some guys think a girl is attractive when other people think she isn't? Same with girls. How can a girl like a guy when others think he is not attractive? Think about it. Females and guys are always putting pictures on here right, and asking am I pretty or am I attractive. There will be some people say no your ugly and then others say no your so pretty or so hot or whatever. How is it that we all see different people in different ways? < 3
Asked by bamnblb13 - Wed Jun 16 14:33:23 2010 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Everyone has a different taste in what they are looking for. Maybe this girl has a great personality but not the prettiest and thats why some guy likes her and not for her looks while his friends think she is ugly when they don't even know this girl. Just remember different taste. :)
Answered by Yvonne - Wed Jun 16 14:39:50 2010

Yahoo Answers Search: people,
Thu Jul 29 14:02:54 2010
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