An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

1) Accepted, followed, used, or done by many people.
2) Of, relating to, or coming from most of the people in a country, society, or group (Merriam-Webster.com).

M.E., from M.Fr. populier, from L. popularis "belonging to the people, general, common; devoted to or accepted by the people; democratic," from populus "people," → population.

Mardom-pasand, from mardom, → people, + pasand agent noun from pasandidan "to approve, cherish;" Mid.Pers. passandidan "to like, approve, appreciate;" ultimately from Proto-Ir. *pati-sand- "to appreciate; "from *sand- "to appear, seem (good);" cf. Av. sənd- "to appear; seem (good);" O.Pers. θand- "to seem;" Skt. chand- "to appear, to please;" L. censo "I approve, judge." Mardomâné from mardom + -âné suffix with several significations: similarity, manner, ability, suitability, property, possession, etc., from Mid.Pers. -ânag.

The act of popularizing.

→ popularize; → -tion.

1) To make popular; make attractive to the general public.
2) To make (a scientific or academic subject) accessible to the general public by presenting it in an understandable form (OxfordDictionaries.com).

→ popular; → -ize.