commonwealth

plural commonwealths · alternative obsolete common-wealth

1. obsoleteThe well-being of a community.
2. The entirety of a (secular) society, a polity, a state.

   I'th' commonwealth I would by contraries Execute all things, for no kind of traffic Would I admit; no name of magistrate[…]

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

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   Remeber I saye yt ye were at that tyme wt oute Christ and were reputed aliantes from the comen welth [πολιτεία (politeía)] of Israel and were straugers fro the testamentes of promes and had no hope and were with out god in this worlde.

   1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Ephesians ij:[12]

3. Republic. Often capitalized, as Commonwealth.

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   1649, Act of the Long Parliament Be it declared and enacted by this present Parliament and by the Authoritie of the same That the People of England and of all the Dominions and Territoryes thereunto belonging are and shall be and are hereby constituted, made, established, and confirmed to be a Commonwealth and free State And shall from henceforth be Governed as a Commonwealth and Free State by the supreame Authoritie of this Nation, the Representatives of the People in Parliam[ent] and by such as they shall appoint and constitute as Officers and Ministers under them for the good of the People and that without any King or House of Lords.

1. The Commonwealth of Nations, a loose confederation of nations based around the former British Empire.

   As a Commonwealth citizen, you are eligible to vote in United Kingdom elections.

   2 more examples

   Mozambique joined the Commonwealth in 1995, although it had not been a part of the British Empire.

   Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, being former British colonies, are the only Southeast Asian member countries of the Commonwealth.

2. UKhistoricalThe Commonwealth of England (1649–1653); the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland (1653–1660).

   Near-synonyms: Protectorate; Interregnum

   Synonyms: Protectorate, Interregnum

3. AustraliaAustralia, the Commonwealth of Australia, often referring to its federal government.

   Mr. Martin was found guilty of defrauding the Commonwealth by making false welfare claims.

4. Kentucky, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, often referring to its government.
5. Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, often referring to its government.
6. Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, often referring to its government.
7. Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, often referring to its government.

1. A barangay of Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
2. A barangay of Rosario, Northern Samar, Philippines.
3. A barangay of Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines.