commons


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com·mon

(kŏm′ən)
adj. com·mon·er, com·mon·est
1.
a. Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint: common interests.
b. Of or relating to the community as a whole; public: for the common good.
2. Widespread; prevalent: Gas stations became common as the use of cars grew.
3.
a. Occurring frequently or habitually; usual: It is common for movies to last 90 minutes or more.
b. Most widely known; ordinary: the common housefly.
4. Having no special designation, status, or rank: a common sailor.
5.
a. Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average: the common spectator.
b. Of no special quality; standard: common procedure.
c. Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate: common cloth.
6. Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar: behavior that branded him as common.
7. Grammar
a. Either masculine or feminine in gender.
b. Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
n.
1. commons The common people; commonalty.
2. commons(used with a sing. or pl. verb)
a. The social class composed of commoners.
b. The parliamentary representatives of this class.
3. Commons The House of Commons.
4. A tract of land, usually in a centrally located spot, belonging to or used by a community as a whole: a band concert on the village common.
5. The legal right of a person to use the lands or waters of another, as for fishing.
6. commons(used with a sing. verb) A building or hall for dining, typically at a university or college.
7. Common stock.
8. Ecclesiastical A service used for a particular class of festivals.
Idiom:
in common
Equally with or by all.
[Middle English commune, from Old French commun, from Latin commūnis; see mei- in Indo-European roots.]
com′mon·ly adv.
com′mon·ness n.
Synonyms: common , ordinary , familiar
These adjectives describe what is generally known or frequently encountered. Common applies to what takes place often, is widely used, or is well known: The botanist studied the common dandelion. The term also implies coarseness or a lack of distinction: My wallet was stolen by a common thief. Ordinary describes something usual that is indistinguishable from others, sometimes derogatorily: "His neighbors were all climbing into their cars and trucks and heading off to work as if nothing miraculous had happened and this were just another ordinary day" (Steve Yarbrough).
Familiar applies to what is well known or quickly recognized: Most children can recite familiar nursery rhymes. See Also Synonyms at general.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

commons

(ˈkɒmənz)
n
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (functioning as plural) people not of noble birth viewed as forming a political order
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (functioning as plural) the lower classes as contrasted to the ruling classes of society; the commonalty
3. (Education) (functioning as singular) Brit a building or hall for dining, recreation, etc, usually attached to a college
4. (Education) (usually functioning as plural) Brit food or rations (esp in the phrase short commons)

Commons

(ˈkɒmənz)
n
(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the Commons See House of Commons
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun 1. commons - a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area; "they went for a walk in the park"
amusement park, funfair, pleasure ground - a commercially operated park with stalls and shows for amusement
populated area, urban area - a geographical area constituting a city or town
village green - a village park consisting of a plot of grassy land
2. commons - a pasture subject to common use
grazing land, ley, pasture, pastureland, lea - a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
3. commons - a class composed of persons lacking clerical or noble rank
socio-economic class, stratum, class - people having the same social, economic, or educational status; "the working class"; "an emerging professional class"
4. [画像:Commons - the common people]Commons - the common people
estate of the realm, the three estates, estate - a major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country (especially in the United Kingdom) and formerly possessing distinct political rights
Britain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
France, French Republic - a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Chambre des communes

Commons

[ˈkɒmənz] npl (British) the Commons → les Communes House of Commonscommon sense n → bon sens m
Use your common sense! → Sers-toi de ton bon sens!
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Commons

pl the Commons (Parl) → das Unterhaus ? house

commons

pl on short commons → auf Kurzration gesetzt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Commons

[ˈkɒmənz] npl (Brit) (Pol) the (House of) Commons → la Camera dei Comuni
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
The members of every state must of necessity have all things in common, or some things common, and not others, or nothing at all common.
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In the long run selection gains the day, and we do not expect to fail so far as to breed a bird as coarse as a common tumbler from a good short-faced strain.
When a part has been developed in an extraordinary manner in any one species, compared with the other species of the same genus, we may conclude that this part has undergone an extraordinary amount of modification, since the period when the species branched off from the common progenitor of the genus.
While occupying myself with these no doubt wanton reflections on the unfair division of opportunities in human life, I was leisurely crossing the common, and presently I came up with a pedestrian who, though I had little suspected it as I caught sight of him ahead, was destined by a kind providence to make more entertaining talk for me in half an hour than most people provide in a lifetime.
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Round Moun Usborne, at a height of from 1000 to 1500 feet above the sea about half of some of the herds are mouse or lead-coloured a tint which is not common in other parts of the island Near Port Pleasant dark brown prevails, whereas south o Choiseul Sound (which almost divides the island into tw parts), white beasts with black heads and feet are the mos common: in all parts black, and some spotted animals ma be observed.
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Things are said to be named 'equivocally' when, though they have a common name, the definition corresponding with the name differs for each.
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In the early ages of Christianity, Germany was occupied by seven distinct nations, who had no common chief.
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But very early in the morning poor Ogilvy, who had seen the shooting star and who was persuaded that a meteorite lay somewhere on the common between Horsell, Ottershaw, and Woking, rose early with the idea of finding it.
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Such is the scheme, Glaucon, according to which the guardians of our State are to have their wives and families in common. And now you would have the argument show that this community is consistent with the rest of our polity, and also that nothing can be better-- would you not?
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Joe and Pumblechook who were so rude to me, and that there had been a beautiful young lady at Miss Havisham's who was dreadfully proud, and that she had said I was common, and that I knew I was common, and that I wished I was not common, and that the lies had come of it somehow, though I didn't know how.
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The Communists are distinguished from the other working-class parties is only: (1) In the national struggles of the proletarians of the different countries, they point out and bring to the front the common interests of entire proletariat, independently of nationality.
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If it be from the common people, it is commonly false and naught; and rather followeth vain persons, than virtuous.
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