n.; pl. Communities [ L. communitas: cf. OF. communité. Cf. Commonalty, and see Common. ] 1. Common possession or enjoyment; participation; as, a community of goods. [ 1913 Webster ]
The original community of all things. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]
An unreserved community of thought and feeling. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
Creatures that in communities exist. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. Society at large; a commonwealth or state; a body politic; the public, or people in general. [ 1913 Webster ]
Burdens upon the poorer classes of the community. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ In this sense, the term should be used with the definite article; as, the interests of the community. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. Common character; likeness. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
The essential community of nature between organic growth and inorganic growth. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]
5. Commonness; frequency. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Eyes . . . sick and blunted with community. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]