belonging equally to, or shared alike by, two or more or all in question: common property; common interests.
2.
pertaining or belonging equally to an entire community, nation, or culture; public: a common language or history; a common water-supply system.
3.
joint; united: a common defense.
4.
widespread; general; ordinary: common knowledge.
5.
of frequent occurrence; usual; familiar: a common event; a common mistake.
6.
hackneyed; trite.
7.
of mediocre or inferior quality; mean; low: a rough-textured suit of the most common fabric.
8.
coarse; vulgar: common manners.
9.
lacking rank, station, distinction, etc.; unexceptional; ordinary: a common soldier; common people; the common man; a common thief.
10.
Dialect. friendly; sociable; unaffected.
11.
Anatomy. forming or formed by two or more parts or branches: the common carotid arteries.
12.
Prosody. (of a syllable) able to be considered as either long or short.
13.
Grammar.
a.
not belonging to an inflectional paradigm; fulfilling different functions that in some languages require different inflected forms: English nouns are in the common case whether used as subject or object.
b.
constituting one of two genders of a language, esp. a gender comprising nouns that were formerly masculine or feminine: Swedish nouns are either common or neuter.
c.
noting a word that may refer to either a male or a female: French élève has common gender. English lacks a common gender pronoun in the third person singular.
d.
(of a noun) belonging to the common gender.
14.
Mathematics. bearing a similar relation to two or more entities.
15.
of, pertaining to, or being common stock: common shares.
–noun
16.
Often, commons.Chiefly New England. a tract of land owned or used jointly by the residents of a community, usually a central square or park in a city or town.
17.
Law. the right or liberty, in common with other persons, to take profit from the land or waters of another, as by pasturing animals on another's land (common of pasturage) or fishing in another's waters (common of piscary).
18.
commons, (used with a singular or plural verb)
a.
the commonalty; the nonruling class.
b.
the body of people not of noble birth or not ennobled, as represented in England by the House of Commons.
c.
(initial capital letter) the representatives of this body.
d.
(initial capital letter) the House of Commons.
19.
commons,
a.
(used with a singular verb) a large dining room, esp. at a university or college.
b.
(usually used with a plural verb) British. food provided in such a dining room.
c.
(usually used with a plural verb) food or provisions for any group.
20.
(sometimes initial capital letter) Ecclesiastical.
a.
an office or form of service used on a festival of a particular kind.
b.
the ordinary of the Mass, esp. those parts sung by the choir.
c.
the part of the missal and breviary containing Masses and offices of those saints assigned to them.
21.
Obsolete.
a.
the community or public.
b.
the common people.
—Idiom
22.
in common, in joint possession or use; shared equally: They have a love of adventure in common.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME comun < AF, OF < L commūnis common, presumably orig. “sharing common duties,” akin to mūnia duties of an office, mūnus task, duty, gift < a base *moin-, c. mean2; cf. com-, immune]
—Related forms
com·mon·ness, noun
—Synonyms 4. universal, prevalent, popular. See general.5. customary, everyday. 7, 8, 9.Common,vulgar,ordinary refer, often with derogatory connotations of cheapness or inferiority, to what is usual or most often experienced. Common applies to what is accustomed, usually experienced, or inferior, to the opposite of what is exclusive or aristocratic: The park is used by the common people. Vulgar properly means belonging to the people, or characteristic of common people; it connotes low taste, coarseness, or ill breeding: the vulgar view of things; vulgar in manners and speech. Ordinary refers to what is to be expected in the usual order of things; it means average or below average: That is a high price for something of such ordinary quality.
Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint: common interests.
Of or relating to the community as a whole; public: for the common good. See Usage Note at mutual.
Occurring frequently or habitually; usual.
Most widely known; ordinary: the common housefly.
Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average: the common spectator.
Of no special quality; standard: common procedure.
Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate: common cloth.
Either masculine or feminine in gender.
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
Widespread; prevalent.
Occurring frequently or habitually; usual.
Most widely known; ordinary: the common housefly.
Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average: the common spectator.
Of no special quality; standard: common procedure.
Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate: common cloth.
Either masculine or feminine in gender.
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
Having no special designation, status, or rank: a common sailor.
Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average: the common spectator.
Of no special quality; standard: common procedure.
Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate: common cloth.
Either masculine or feminine in gender.
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar: behavior that branded him as common.
Grammar
Either masculine or feminine in gender.
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
n.
commons The common people; commonalty.
commons(used with a sing. or pl. verb)
The social class composed of commoners.
The parliamentary representatives of this class.
The House of Commons. Often used in the plural.
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.
The legal right of a person to use the lands or waters of another, as for fishing.
commons(used with a sing. verb) A building or hall for dining, typically at a university or college.
Common stock.
Ecclesiastical A service used for a particular class of festivals.
[Middle English commune, from Old French commun, from Latin commūnis; see mei-1 in Indo-European roots.]
com'mon·ly adv., com'mon·ness n.
Synonyms: 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: A ballpoint pen is adequate for ordinary purposes. The critic gave the ordinary performance a mediocre review. Familiar applies to what is well known or quickly recognized: Most children can recite familiar nursery rhymes. Vulgar describes association with the great mass of people and often connotes lack of refinement: "He [Shakespeare] was not something sacred and aloof from the vulgar herd of men" (William Hazlitt). See Also Synonyms at general.
1297, from O.Fr. comun, from L. communis "in common, public, general, shared by all or many," from PIE *ko-moin-i- "held in common," compound adjective formed from *ko- "together" + *moi-n-, suffixed form of base *mei- "change, exchange" (see mutable), hence lit. "shared by all." Second element of the compound also is the source of L. munia "duties, public duties, functions," those related to munia "office." Perhaps reinforced in O.Fr. by Frank. descendant of P.Gmc. *gamainiz (cf. O.E. gemæne "common, public, general, universal"), from the P.Gmc. form of PIE *ko-moin-i- (see mean (adj.)). Used disparagingly of women and criminals since c.1300. Commons "the third estate of the English people as represented in Parliament" is from 1377. Common sense is 14c., originally the power of uniting mentally the impressions conveyed by the five physical senses, thus "ordinary understanding, without which one is foolish or insane" (L. sensus communis, Gk. koine aisthesis); meaning "good sense" is from 1726. Common pleas is 13c., from Anglo-Fr. communs plets, hearing civil actions by one subject against another as opposed to pleas of the crown. Common prayer is contrasted with private prayer.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public; "for the common good"; "common lands are set aside for use by all members of a community" [ant: individual]
2.
having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual; "the common man"; "a common sailor"; "the common cold"; "a common nuisance"; "followed common procedure"; "it is common knowledge that she lives alone"; "the common housefly"; "a common brand of soap" [ant: uncommon]
3.
common to or shared by two or more parties; "a common friend"; "the mutual interests of management and labor"
4.
commonly encountered; "a common (or familiar) complaint"; "the usual greeting"
5.
being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language; "common parlance"; "a vernacular term"; "vernacular speakers"; "the vulgar tongue of the masses"; "the technical and vulgar names for an animal species"
6.
of or associated with the great masses of people; "the common people in those days suffered greatly"; "behavior that branded him as common"; "his square plebeian nose"; "a vulgar and objectionable person"; "the unwashed masses"
7.
of low or inferior quality or value; "of what coarse metal ye are molded"- Shakespeare; "produced...the common cloths used by the poorer population" [syn: coarse]
8.
lacking refinement or cultivation or taste; "he had coarse manners but a first-rate mind"; "behavior that branded him as common"; "an untutored and uncouth human being"; "an uncouth soldier--a real tough guy"; "appealing to the vulgar taste for violence"; "the vulgar display of the newly rich" [syn: coarse]
9.
to be expected; standard; "common decency"
noun
1.
a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area; "they went for a walk in the park" [syn: park]
Main Entry: com·mon Pronunciation: 'käm-&n Function: adjective : formed of or dividing into two or more branches <the common facial
vein> <common iliac vessels>
Main Entry: common Function: noun 1pluralcap:HOUSE OF COMMONS 2: the legal right of taking a profit in another's land in common with the owner or others <the common of estovers> <the common of pasture> 3: a piece of land subject to common use: as a: land jointly owned and used esp. for pasture b: a public open area in a municipality 4: a
condition of shared ownership : a condition in which a right is shared with an interest held by another person <held the estate in common> —see also tenancy in common
at TENANCY —compare SEVERALTY 1 5:COMMON STOCK at, STOCK
Main Entry: com·mon Function: adjective 1 a: of or relating to a community at large :PUBLIC <common defense> b: known to the community <a common thief> 2: belonging to or shared by two or more persons or
things or by all members of a group <when the insured and the beneficiary perish in a common disaster> <common areas of the building> 3: of or relating to
common stock <common shares>
Littleton Common, MA (CDP, FIPS 36020) Location: 42.53652 N, 71.47248 W Population (1990): 2867 (1167 housing units) Area: 9.0 sq km (land), 0.4 sq km (water)
Ap*pur"te*nant\, a. [F. appartenant, p. pr. of appartenir. See Appurtenance.] Annexed or pertaining to some more important thing; accessory; incident; as, a right of way appurtenant to land or buildings. --Blackstone. Common appurtenant. (Law) See under Common, n.
Car"ri*er\, n. [From Carry.]1. One who, or that which, carries or conveys; a messenger. The air which is but . . . a carrier of the sounds. --Bacon. 2. One who is employed, or makes it his business, to carry goods for others for hire; a porter; a teamster. The roads are crowded with carriers, laden with rich manufactures. --Swift. 3. (Mach.) That which drives or carries; as: (a) A piece which communicates to an object in a lathe the motion of the face plate; a lathe dog. (b) A spool holder or bobbin holder in a braiding machine. (c) A movable piece in magazine guns which transfers the cartridge to a position from which it can be thrust into the barrel. Carrier pigeon (Zo["o]l.), a variety of the domestic pigeon used to convey letters from a distant point to to its home. Carrier shell (Zo["o]l.), a univalve shell of the genus Phorus; -- so called because it fastens bits of stones and broken shells to its own shell, to such an extent as almost to conceal it. Common carrier (Law.) See under Common, a.
Chord\, n. [L chorda a gut, a string made of a gut, Gr. ?. In the sense of a string or small rope, in general, it is written cord. See Cord.]1. The string of a musical instrument. --Milton. 2. (Mus.) A combination of tones simultaneously performed, producing more or less perfect harmony, as, the common chord. 3. (Geom.) A right line uniting the extremities of the arc of a circle or curve. 4. (Anat.) A cord. See Cord, n., 4. 5. (Engin.) The upper or lower part of a truss, usually horizontal, resisting compression or tension. --Waddell. Accidental, Common, & Vocalchords. See under Accidental, Common, and Vocal. Chord of an arch. See Illust. of Arch. Chord of curvature, a chord drawn from any point of a curve, in the circle of curvature for that point. Scale of chords. See Scale.
Chord\, n. [L chorda a gut, a string made of a gut, Gr. ?. In the sense of a string or small rope, in general, it is written cord. See Cord.]1. The string of a musical instrument. --Milton. 2. (Mus.) A combination of tones simultaneously performed, producing more or less perfect harmony, as, the common chord. 3. (Geom.) A right line uniting the extremities of the arc of a circle or curve. 4. (Anat.) A cord. See Cord, n., 4. 5. (Engin.) The upper or lower part of a truss, usually horizontal, resisting compression or tension. --Waddell. Accidental, Common, & Vocalchords. See under Accidental, Common, and Vocal. Chord of an arch. See Illust. of Arch. Chord of curvature, a chord drawn from any point of a curve, in the circle of curvature for that point. Scale of chords. See Scale.
Com"mon\, a. [Compar. Commoner; superl. Commonest.] [OE. commun, comon, OF. comun, F. commun, fr. L. communis; com- + munis ready to be of service; cf. Skr. mi to make fast, set up, build, Goth. gamains common, G. gemein, and E. mean low, common. Cf. Immunity, Commune, n. & v.]1. Belonging or relating equally, or similarly, to more than one; as, you and I have a common interest in the property. Though life and sense be common to men and brutes. --Sir M. Hale. 2. Belonging to or shared by, affecting or serving, all the members of a class, considered together; general; public; as, properties common to all plants; the common schools; the Book of Common Prayer. Such actions as the common good requireth. --Hooker. The common enemy of man. --Shak. 3. Often met with; usual; frequent; customary. Grief more than common grief. --Shak. 4. Not distinguished or exceptional; inconspicuous; ordinary; plebeian; -- often in a depreciatory sense. The honest, heart-felt enjoyment of common life. --W. Irving. This fact was infamous And ill beseeming any common man, Much more a knight, a captain and a leader. --Shak. Above the vulgar flight of common souls. --A. Murphy. 5. Profane; polluted. [Obs.] What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. --Acts x. 15. 6. Given to habits of lewdness; prostitute. A dame who herself was common. --L'Estrange. Common bar (Law) Same as Blank bar, under Blank. Common barrator (Law), one who makes a business of instigating litigation. Common Bench, a name sometimes given to the English Court of Common Pleas. Common brawler (Law), one addicted to public brawling and quarreling. See Brawler. Common carrier (Law), one who undertakes the office of carrying (goods or persons) for hire. Such a carrier is bound to carry in all cases when he has accommodation, and when his fixed price is tendered, and he is liable for all losses and injuries to the goods, except those which happen in consequence of the act of God, or of the enemies of the country, or of the owner of the property himself. Common chord (Mus.), a chord consisting of the fundamental tone, with its third and fifth. Common council, the representative (legislative) body, or the lower branch of the representative body, of a city or other municipal corporation. Common crier, the crier of a town or city. Common divisor (Math.), a number or quantity that divides two or more numbers or quantities without a remainder; a common measure. Common gender (Gram.), the gender comprising words that may be of either the masculine or the feminine gender. Common law, a system of jurisprudence developing under the guidance of the courts so as to apply a consistent and reasonable rule to each litigated case. It may be superseded by statute, but unless superseded it controls. --Wharton. Note: It is by others defined as the unwritten law (especially of England), the law that receives its binding force from immemorial usage and universal reception, as ascertained and expressed in the judgments of the courts. This term is often used in contradistinction from statute law. Many use it to designate a law common to the whole country. It is also used to designate the whole body of English (or other) law, as distinguished from its subdivisions, local, civil, admiralty, equity, etc. See Law. Common lawyer, one versed in common law. Common lewdness (Law), the habitual performance of lewd acts in public. Common multiple (Arith.) See under Multiple. Common noun (Gram.), the name of any one of a class of objects, as distinguished from a proper noun (the name of a particular person or thing). Common nuisance (Law), that which is deleterious to the health or comfort or sense of decency of the community at large. Common pleas, one of the three superior courts of common law at Westminster, presided over by a chief justice and four puisne judges. Its jurisdiction is confined to civil matters. Courts bearing this title exist in several of the United States, having, however, in some cases, both civil and criminal jurisdiction extending over the whole State. In other States the jurisdiction of the common pleas is limited to a county, and it is sometimes called a county court. Its powers are generally defined by statute. Common prayer, the liturgy of the Church of England, or of the Protestant Episcopal church of the United States, which all its clergy are enjoined to use. It is contained in the Book of Common Prayer. Common school, a school maintained at the public expense, and open to all. Common scold (Law), a woman addicted to scolding indiscriminately, in public. Common seal, a seal adopted and used by a corporation. Common sense. (a) A supposed sense which was held to be the common bond of all the others. [Obs.] --Trench. (b) Sound judgment. See under Sense. Common time (Mus.), that variety of time in which the measure consists of two or of four equal portions. In common, equally with another, or with others; owned, shared, or used, in community with others; affecting or affected equally. Out of the common, uncommon; extraordinary. Tenant in common, one holding real or personal property in common with others, having distinct but undivided interests. See Joint tenant, under Joint. To make common cause with, to join or ally one's self with. Syn: General; public; popular; national; universal; frequent; ordinary; customary; usual; familiar; habitual; vulgar; mean; trite; stale; threadbare; commonplace. See Mutual, Ordinary, General.
Com"mon\, n. 1. The people; the community. [Obs.] "The weal o' the common." --Shak. 2. An inclosed or uninclosed tract of ground for pleasure, for pasturage, etc., the use of which belongs to the public; or to a number of persons. 3. (Law) The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; -- so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right. Common appendant, a right belonging to the owners or occupiers of arable land to put commonable beasts upon the waste land in the manor where they dwell. Common appurtenant, a similar right applying to lands in other manors, or extending to other beasts, besides those which are generally commonable, as hogs. Common because ofvicinage or neighborhood, the right of the inhabitants of each of two townships, lying contiguous to each other, which have usually intercommoned with one another, to let their beasts stray into the other's fields. - Commonin gross or at large, a common annexed to a man's person, being granted to him and his heirs by deed; or it may be claimed by prescriptive right, as by a parson of a church or other corporation sole. --Blackstone. Common of estovers, the right of taking wood from another's estate. Common of pasture, the right of feeding beasts on the land of another. --Burill. Common of piscary, the right of fishing in waters belonging to another. Common of turbary, the right of digging turf upon the ground of another.
Com"mon\, n. 1. The people; the community. [Obs.] "The weal o' the common." --Shak. 2. An inclosed or uninclosed tract of ground for pleasure, for pasturage, etc., the use of which belongs to the public; or to a number of persons. 3. (Law) The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; -- so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right. Common appendant, a right belonging to the owners or occupiers of arable land to put commonable beasts upon the waste land in the manor where they dwell. Common appurtenant, a similar right applying to lands in other manors, or extending to other beasts, besides those which are generally commonable, as hogs. Common because ofvicinage or neighborhood, the right of the inhabitants of each of two townships, lying contiguous to each other, which have usually intercommoned with one another, to let their beasts stray into the other's fields. - Commonin gross or at large, a common annexed to a man's person, being granted to him and his heirs by deed; or it may be claimed by prescriptive right, as by a parson of a church or other corporation sole. --Blackstone. Common of estovers, the right of taking wood from another's estate. Common of pasture, the right of feeding beasts on the land of another. --Burill. Common of piscary, the right of fishing in waters belonging to another. Common of turbary, the right of digging turf upon the ground of another.
Com"mon\, v. i. 1. To converse together; to discourse; to confer. [Obs.] Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were commoned of. --Grafton. 2. To participate. [Obs.] --Sir T. More. 3. To have a joint right with others in common ground. --Johnson. 4. To board together; to eat at a table in common.
Com*mune"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Communed; p. pr. & vb. n. Communing.] [OF. communier, fr. L. communicare to communicate, fr. communis common. See Common, and cf. Communicate.]1. To converse together with sympathy and confidence; to interchange sentiments or feelings; to take counsel. I would commune with you of such things That want no ear but yours. --Shak. 2. To receive the communion; to partake of the eucharist or Lord's supper. To commune under both kinds. --Bp. Burnet. To commune with one's self or one's heart, to think; to reflect; to meditate.
Com"mune\, n. [F., fr. commun. See Common.]1. The commonalty; the common people. [Obs.] --Chaucer. In this struggle -- to use the technical words of the time -- of the "commune", the general mass of the inhabitants, against the "prudhommes" or "wiser" few. --J. R. Green. 2. A small territorial district in France under the government of a mayor and municipal council; also, the inhabitants, or the government, of such a district. See Arrondissement. 3. Absolute municipal self-government. The Commune of Paris, or The Commune (a) The government established in Paris (1792-94) by a usurpation of supreme power on the part of representatives chosen by the communes; the period of its continuance is known as the "Reign of Terror." (b) The revolutionary government, modeled on the commune of 1792, which the communists, so called, attempted to establish in 1871.
Com*mun"ion\, n. [L. communio: cf. F. communion. See Common.]1. The act of sharing; community; participation. "This communion of goods." --Blackstone. 2. Intercourse between two or more persons; esp., intimate association and intercourse implying sympathy and confidence; interchange of thoughts, purposes, etc.; agreement; fellowship; as, the communion of saints. We are naturally induced to seek communion and fellowship with others. --Hooker. What communion hath light with darkness? --2 Cor. vi. 14. Bare communion with a good church can never alone make a good man. --South. 3. A body of Christians having one common faith and discipline; as, the Presbyterian communion. 4. The sacrament of the eucharist; the celebration of the Lord's supper; the act of partaking of the sacrament; as, to go to communion; to partake of the communion. Close communion. See under Close, a. Communion elements, the bread and wine used in the celebration of the Lord's supper. Communion service, the celebration of the Lord's supper, or the office or service therefor. Communion table, the table upon which the elements are placed at the celebration of the Lord's supper. Communion in both kinds, participation in both the bread and wine by all communicants. Communion in one kind, participation in but one element, as in the Roman Catholic Church, where the laity partake of the bread only. Syn: Share; participation; fellowship; converse; intercourse; unity; concord; agreement.
Com*mu"ni*ty\, n.; pl. Communities. [L. communitas: cf. OF. communit['e]. Cf. Commonalty, and see Common.]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.
Coun"cil\ (koun"s[i^]l), n. [F. concile, fr. L. concilium; con- + calare to call, akin to Gr. ??? to call, and E. hale, v., haul. Cf. Conciliate. This word is often confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection.]1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation in a critical case. 2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an advisory or a legislative assembly; as, a governor's council; a city council. An old lord of the council rated me the other day. --Shak. 3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation. Satan . . . void of rest, His potentates to council called by night. --Milton. O great in action and in council wise. --Pope. Aulic council. See under Aulic. Cabinet council. See under Cabinet. City council, the legislative branch of a city government, usually consisting of a board of aldermen and common council, but sometimes otherwise constituted. Common council. See under Common. Council board, Council table, the table round which a council holds consultation; also, the council itself in deliberation. Council chamber, the room or apartment in which a council meets. Council fire, the ceremonial fire kept burning while the Indians hold their councils. [U.S.] --Bartlett. Council of war, an assembly of officers of high rank, called to consult with the commander in chief in regard to measures or importance or nesessity. Ecumenical council (Eccl.), an assembly of prelates or divines convened from the whole body of the church to regulate matters of doctrine or discipline. Executive council, a body of men elected as advisers of the chief magistrate, whether of a State or the nation. [U.S.] Legislative council, the upper house of a legislature, usually called the senate. Privy council. See under Privy. [Eng.] Syn: Assembly; meeting; congress; diet; parliament; convention; convocation; synod.
Court\ (k?rt), n. [OF. court, curt, cort, F. co?r, LL. cortis, fr. L. cohors, cors, chors, gen. cohortis, cortis, chortis, an inclosure, court, thing inclosed, crowd, throng; co- + a root akin to Gr. ???? inclosure, feeding place, and to E. garden, yard, orchard. See Yard, and cf. Cohort, Curtain.]1. An inclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different building; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley. The courts the house of our God. --Ps. cxxxv. 2. And round the cool green courts there ran a row Cf cloisters. --Tennyson. Goldsmith took a garret in a miserable court. --Macaulay. 2. The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or ether dignitary; a palace. Attends the emperor in his royal court. --Shak. This our court, infected with their manners, Shows like a riotous inn. --Shak. 3. The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state. My lord, there is a nobleman of the court at door would speak with you. --Shak. Love rules the court, the camp, the grove. --Sir. W. Scott. 4. Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign; as, to hold a court. The princesses held their court within the fortress. --Macaulay. 5. Attention directed to a person in power; conduct or address designed to gain favor; courtliness of manners; civility; compliment; flattery. No solace could her paramour intreat Her once to show, ne court, nor dalliance. --Spenser. I went to make my court to the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle. --Evelyn. 6. (Law) (a) The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered. (b) The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of causes. (c) A tribunal established for the administration of justice. (d) The judge or judges; as distinguished from the counsel or jury, or both. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. --Shak. 7. The session of a judicial assembly. 8. Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical. 9. A place arranged for playing the game of tennis; also, one of the divisions of a tennis court. Christian court, the English ecclesiastical courts in the aggregate, or any one of them. Court breeding, education acquired at court. Court card. Same as Coat card. Court circular, one or more paragraphs of news respecting the sovereign and the royal family, together with the proceedings or movements of the court generally, supplied to the newspapers by an officer specially charged with such duty. [Eng.] --Edwards. Court day, a day on which a court sits to administer justice. Court dress, the dress prescribed for appearance at the court of a sovereign. Court fool, a buffoon or jester, formerly kept by princes and nobles for their amusement. Court guide, a directory of the names and adresses of the nobility and gentry in a town. Court hand, the hand or manner of writing used in records and judicial proceedings. --Shak. Court lands (Eng. Law), lands kept in demesne, -- that is, for the use of the lord and his family. Court marshal, one who acts as marshal for a court. Court party, a party attached to the court. Court rolls, the records of a court. SeeRoll. Court in banc, or Court in bank, The full court sitting at its regular terms for the hearing of arguments upon questions of law, as distinguished from a sitting at nisi prius. Court of Arches, audience, etc. See under Arches, Audience, etc. Court of Chancery. See Chancery, n. Court of Common pleas. (Law) See Common pleas, under Common. Court of Equity. See under Equity, and Chancery. Court of Inquiry (Mil.), a court appointed to inquire into and report on some military matter, as the conduct of an officer. Court of St. James, the usual designation of the British Court; -- so called from the old palace of St. James, which is used for the royal receptions, levees, and drawing-rooms. The court of the Lord, the temple at Jerusalem; hence, a church, or Christian house of worship. General Court, the legislature of a State; -- so called from having had, in the colonial days, judicial power; as, the General Court of Massachusetts. [U.S.] To pay one's court, to seek to gain favor by attentions. "Alcibiades was assiduous in paying his court to Tissaphernes." --Jowett. To put out of court, to refuse further judicial hearing.
Es*to"vers\, n. pl. [OF. estoveir, estovoir, necessary, necessity, need, prop. an infin. meaning to suit, be fit, be necessary. See Stover.] (Law) Necessaries or supples; an allowance to a person out of an estate or other thing for support; as of wood to a tenant for life, etc., of sustenance to a man confined for felony of his estate, or alimony to a woman divorced out of her husband's estate. --Blackstone. Common of estovers. See under Common, n.
Frac"tion\, n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking, fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See Break.]1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence. [Obs.] Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up. --Foxe. 2. A portion; a fragment. Some niggard fractions of an hour. --Tennyson. 3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a unit or magnitude. Common, or Vulgar, fraction, a fraction in which the number of equal parts into which the integer is supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters, called the denominator, written below a line, over which is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts included in the fraction; as 1/2, one half, 2/5, two fifths. Complex fraction, a fraction having a fraction or mixed number in the numerator or denominator, or in both. --Davies & Peck. Compound fraction, a fraction of a fraction; two or more fractions connected by of. Continued fraction, Decimal fraction, Partial fraction, etc. See under Continued, Decimal, Partial, etc. Improper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is greater than the denominator. Proper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator.
Gen"er*al\, a. [F. g['e]n['e]ral, fr. L. generalis. See Genus.]1. Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy. 2. Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or particular; including all particulars; as, a general inference or conclusion. 3. Not restrained or limited to a precise import; not specific; vague; indefinite; lax in signification; as, a loose and general expression. 4. Common to many, or the greatest number; widely spread; prevalent; extensive, though not universal; as, a general opinion; a general custom. This general applause and cheerful shout Argue your wisdom and your love to Richard. --Shak. 5. Having a relation to all; common to the whole; as, Adam, our general sire. --Milton. 6. As a whole; in gross; for the most part. His general behavior vain, ridiculous. --Shak. 7. Usual; common, on most occasions; as, his general habit or method. Note: The word general, annexed to a name of office, usually denotes chief or superior; as, attorney-general; adjutant general; commissary general; quartermaster general; vicar-general, etc. General agent (Law), an agent whom a principal employs to transact all his business of a particular kind, or to act in his affairs generally. General assembly. See the Note under Assembly. General average, General Court. See under Average, Court. General court-martial (Mil.), the highest military and naval judicial tribunal. General dealer (Com.), a shopkeeper who deals in all articles in common use. General demurrer (Law), a demurrer which objects to a pleading in general terms, as insufficient, without specifying the defects. --Abbott. General epistle, a canonical epistle. General guides (Mil.), two sergeants (called the right, and the left, general guide) posted opposite the right and left flanks of an infantry battalion, to preserve accuracy in marching. --Farrow. General hospitals (Mil.), hospitals established to receive sick and wounded sent from the field hospitals. --Farrow. General issue (Law), an issue made by a general plea, which traverses the whole declaration or indictment at once, without offering any special matter to evade it. --Bouvier. --Burrill. General lien (Law), a right to detain a chattel, etc., until payment is made of any balance due on a general account. General officer (Mil.), any officer having a rank above that of colonel. General orders (Mil.), orders from headquarters published to the whole command. General practitioner, in the United States, one who practices medicine in all its branches without confining himself to any specialty; in England, one who practices both as physician and as surgeon. General ship, a ship not chartered or let to particular parties. General term (Logic), a term which is the sign of a general conception or notion. General verdict (Law), the ordinary comprehensive verdict in civil actions, "for the plaintiff" or "for the defendant". --Burrill. General warrant (Law), a warrant, now illegal, to apprehend suspected persons, without naming individuals. Syn: Syn. General, Common, Universal. Usage: Common denotes primarily that in which many share; and hence, that which is often met with. General is stronger, denoting that which pertains to a majority of the individuals which compose a genus, or whole. Universal, that which pertains to all without exception. To be able to read and write is so common an attainment in the United States, that we may pronounce it general, though by no means universal.
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