The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Community \Com*mu"ni*ty\, n.; pl. Communities. [L. communitas:
cf. OF. communit['e]. Cf. Commonalty, and see Common.]
1. Common possession or enjoyment; participation; as, a
community of goods.
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The original community of all things. --Locke.
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An unreserved community of thought and feeling. --W.
Irving.
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2. A body of people having common rights, privileges, or
interests, or living in the same place under the same laws
and regulations; as, a community of monks. Hence a number
of animals living in a common home or with some apparent
association of interests.
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Creatures that in communities exist. --Wordsworth.
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3. Society at large; a commonwealth or state; a body politic;
the public, or people in general.
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Burdens upon the poorer classes of the community.
--Hallam.
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Note: In this sense, the term should be used with the
definite article; as, the interests of the community.
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4. Common character; likeness. [R.]
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The essential community of nature between organic
growth and inorganic growth. --H. Spencer.
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5. Commonness; frequency. [Obs.]
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Eyes . . . sick and blunted with community. --Shak.
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