Cit'y1, n.
n. [O. Eng. cite, Fr. cité, O. Fr. citeit, Pr. ciu, ciutat, ciptat, civitat, It. città, cittade, Sp. ciudad, Pg. cidade, from Lat. civitas, the citizens united in a community, the state, a city, from civis, citizen.]
Sense 1. A large town; a large number of houses and inhabitants, established in one place. “The body of the country, city, court.” Shak.
Sense 2. A corporate town; in the United States, a town or collective body of inhabitants, incorporated and governed by a mayor and aldermen; in Great Britain, a town corporate, which is or has been the seat of a bishop, or the capital of his see.
When Georges constituted York a city, he of course meant it to be the seat of a bishop, for the word city has no other meaning in English law. Palfrey.
Sense 3. The collective body of citizens, or inhabitants of a city.
What is the city but the people? True, the people are the city. Shak.
Synonyms—See VILLAGE.