multitude Copy link Outline I. A great number1. multĭtūdo2. expr. by multi, ae, a; or stronger, plurimi3. vis, vim, vi, f. (a very large number or great abundance of anythingII. A great number of people1. multĭtūdo2. vis hominum3. turba (a m. in confusion)4. coetus., ūs (an assemblage of any kind)III. The common run of men, as distinguished from the more select few1. vulgus, i, n. (rarely m.)2. multĭtūdo (a less offensive expr. than preceding) • multitude: I. A great number: 1. multĭtūdo: a m. of ships, m. navium, Caes. B. G. 5, 8: Cic. 2. expr. by multi, ae, a; or stronger, plurimi: v. many. In like manner, such a m., tot: v. many (so). 3. vis, vim, vi, f. (a very large number or great abundance of anything: "a host"): an immense n. (or quantity) of frogs, vis maxima ranunculorum, Cic. Fam. 7, 18, fin.: see also host (II.). (N.B.--Beware of silva in this sense; it denotes the subject matter of a science: cf. Cic. de Or. 3, 30, init.) II. A great number of people: 1. multĭtūdo: so vast a m., tanta m., Caes. B. G. 2., 6: Cic.: in this sense, may be foll. by hominum: Cic. Caec. 12, 33. Join: quanta multitudo, quanta vis hominum, id. Verr. 2, 2, 66, 160. 2. vis hominum: cf. supr. (I., 3). 3. turba (a m. in confusion): v. crowd, throng. 4. coetus., ūs (an assemblage of any kind): Cic.: Suet. III. The common run of men, as distinguished from the more select few: 1. vulgus, i, n. (rarely m.): there is no wisdom in the m., non est consilium in v., Cic. Pl. 4, 9: adapted to please the m., gratum in vulgus., id. Att. 2, 22: Virg.: Hor. 2. multĭtūdo (a less offensive expr. than preceding): to depend upon the errors of the ignorant m., ex errore imperitae m. pendere, Cic. Off. 1, 19, 65: the credulous m., credula m., Just. 2, 8, fin. Phr.: one of the m. (a person of no distinction), unus e multis, Cic. Fin. 2., 20, fin.: also, unus de multis, id. Off. 1, 30, 109.