Re-pŭb'lic, n.

n. [Fr. république, Sp. república, It. repubblica, republica, Lat. respublica, from res, a thing, an affair, and publicus, publica, public.]

1. Common interest; the public. [Obs.] B. Jon.
2. A state in which the sovereign power is exercised by representatives elected by the people; a commonwealth.

Republic of letters, the collective body of literary or learned men.