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

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