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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