Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COM'MON-LY, adv.

Usually; generally; ordinarily; frequently; for the most part; as, confirmed habits commonly continue through life.

COM'MON-NESS, n.

1. Frequent occurrence; a state of being common or usual.
2. Equal participation by two or more. [Little used.]

COM'MON-PLACE, a.

Common, trite, not new or extraordinary.

COM'MON-PLACE, n.

A memorandum; a common topic.

COM'MON-PLACE, v.t.

To enter in a commonplace-book, or to reduce to general heads. – Felton.

COM'MON-PLACE-BOOK, n.

A book in which things to be remembered are recorded.

COM'MON-PLA-CED, a.

Entered in a commonplace-book.

COM'MON-PLEAS, n.

A court for trial of civil causes.

COM'MONS, n. [plur.]

1. The common people, who inherit or possess no honors or titles; the vulgar. – Chaucer. Shak. Dryden.
2. In England, the lower house of Parliament, consisting of the representatives of cities, boroughs and counties, chosen by men possessed of the property or qualifications required by law. This body is called the House of Commons. The House of Representatives in North Carolina bears the same name.
3. Common grounds; land possessed or used by two or more persons in common. [See Common.]
4. Food provided at a common table, as in colleges, where many persons eat at the same table or in the same hall. Their commons, though but coarse, were nothing scant. – Dryden. Doctors Commons, in London, a college founded by Dr. Harvey, for the professors of the civil law, where the civilians common together. The house was consumed in the great fire in 1666, but rebuilt in 1672. To this college belong thirty-four proctors. – Encyc.

COM'MON-TY, n.

In Scots law, land belonging to two or more common proprietors; or a heath or muir, of which there has been a promiscuous possession by pasturage. – Encyc.

COM-MON-WEAL', or COM-MON-WEALTH', n. [See Weal and Wealth.]

1. An established form of government, or civil polity; or more generally, a state; a body politic, consisting of a certain portion of men united by compact or tacit agreement, under one form of government and system of laws. This term is applied to the government of Great Britain, which is of a mixed character, and to other governments which are considered as free or popular, but rarely or improperly, to an absolute government. A commonwealth is properly a free state; a popular or representative government; a republic; as, the commonwealth of Massachusetts. The word signifies strictly, the common good or happiness; and hence, the form of government supposed best to secure the public good.
2. The whole body of people in a state; the public. – Shak.
3. The territory of a state; as, all the land within the limits of the commonwealth. – Massachusetts.

COM-MON-WEALTH'S'MAN, n.

One who favors the commonwealth, or a republican government.

COM'MO-RANCE, or COM'MO-RAN-CY, n. [L. commorans, commoror; con and moror, to stay or delay.]

A dwelling or ordinary residence in a place; abode; habitation. Commorancy consists in usually lying there. – Blackstone.

COM'MO-RANT, a.

Dwelling; ordinarily residing; inhabiting. All freeholders within the precinct … and all persons commorant therein … are obliged to attend the court-leet. Blackstone.

COM-MO'RI-ENT, a. [L. commoriens.]

Dying at the same time. – Buck.

COM'MOTH-ER, n.

A godmother. [Little used.]

COM-MO'TION, n. [L. commotio, commoveo; con and moveo. See Move.]

1. Agitation; as, the commotion of the sea.
2. Tumult of people; disturbance; disorder, which may amount at times to sedition or insurrection; as, the commotions of a state. When ye hear of wars and commotion, be not terrified. – Luke xxi.
3. Agitation; perturbation; disorder of mind; heat; excitement. He could not debate without commotion. – Clarendon.

COM-MO'TION-ER, n.

Ono who excites commotion. [Little used.] – Bacon.

COM-MOVE', v.t. [L. commoveo. See Move.]

To put in motion; to disturb; to agitate; to unsettle; a poetic word. – Thomson.

COM-MOV'ED, pp.

Moved, agitated.

COM-MOV'ING, ppr.

Agitating.

COM-MUN'AL, a.

Pertaining to a commune.

COM'MUNE, n.

A small territorial district in France – one of the subordinate divisions of the country introduced in the late revolution. Communibus annis, one year with another; on an average. Communibus locis, one place with another; on a medium.

COM-MUNE', v.i. [Fr. communier; W. cymunaw; Arm. communya. The Welsh word is by Owen considered as a compound of cy, a prefix equivalent to co and con in Latin, and ymun; ym, noting identity, and unaw, to unite. If the word is formed from cy or cum and unus, it is radically different from common. But the Latin communico accords with this word, and with common.]

1. To converse; to talk together familiarly; to impart sentiments mutually, in private or familiar discourse; followed by with before the person. And there will I meet and commune with thee. – Ex. xxv.
2. To have intercourse in contemplation or meditation. Commune with your own heart on your bed. Ps. iv.
3. To partake of the sacrament or Lord's supper; to receive the communion; a common use of the word in America, as it is in the Welsh.

COM-MU-NI-CA-BIL'I-TY, n. [See Communicate.]

The quality of being communicable; capability of being imparted from one to another. Johnson.