Com-mū'ni-ty, n.

n. [Lat. communitas, Pr. comunitat, Sp. comunidad, It. comunità. Cf. COMMON-ALTY.]

1. Common possession or enjoyment; as, a community of goods. “A confirmation of the original community of all things.” Locke. “An unreserved community of thought and feeling.” W. Irving.
2. A society of people having common rights, privileges, or interests, civil, political, or ecclesiastical; or living under the same laws and regulations; as, a community of monks.
3. Society at large; a commonwealth or state; a body politic; the public, or people in general. “Burdens upon the poorer classes of the community.” Hallam.

☞ In this sense, the term should not be used indefinitely, like the word society; as, the interests of community require this; but the interests of the community, &c. 4. Commonness; frequency. [Obs.] “Eyes . . . sick and blunted with community.” Shak.