What does "community" mean?

Community: 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.

Additional senses

  1. 2.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.
  2. 3.Common character; likeness. [R.] The essential community of nature between organic growth and inorganic growth. H. Spencer.
  3. 4.Commonness; frequency. [Obs.] Eyes . . . sick and blunted with community. Shak.

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