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Commonwealth. Such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal. Shak.

rm of government and system of laws. The trappings of a monarchy would set up an ordinary commonwealth. Milton.

to be a standing commemoration of the death and passion of our Lord. Abp. Tillotson. The commonwealth which . . . chooses the most flagrant act of murderous regicide treason for a feast of eternal commemoration. Burke.

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.

nt. Were every one employed in points concordant to their natures, professions, and arts, commonwealths would rise up of themselves. Sir T. Browne

This work will ask as many more officials to make expurgations and expunctions, that the commonwealth of learning be not damnified. Milton.

; a fault; a misdeed; an offense; a misdemeanor; a crime. The delinquencies of the little commonwealth would be represented in the most glaring colors. Motley.

dissolve the union or connection of; to disunite; to sever; to separate; to disperse. The commonwealth itself would . . . be disconnected into the dust and powder of individuality. Burke. This restriction disconnects bank paper and the precious metals. Walsh.

territory over which dominion or authority is exerted; the possessions of a sovereign or commonwealth, or the like. Also used figuratively. The domain of authentic history. E. Everett. The domain over which the poetic spirit ranges. J. C. Shairp.

al interests or forces. The means of preserving the equipoise and the tranquillity of the commonwealth. Burke. Our little lives are kept in equipoise By opposite attractions and desires. Longfellow.

To set up or establish; to found; to form; to institute. "To erect a new commonwealth." Hooker. Erecting shop (Mach.), a place where large machines, as engines, are put together and adjusted.

of fitting together the parts of, as a machine; the act of founding or establishing, as a commonwealth or an office; also, the act of rousing to excitement or courage.

s of a thing. Fifth monarchy men (Hist.), a fanatical sect in England, of the time of the commonwealth, who maintained that there would be a fifth universal monarchy, during which Christ would reign on earth a thousand years. -- Fifth wheel, a horizontal wheel or segment above the fore axle of a carriage and beneath t…

a general assembly of the people to consider and order matters of the commonwealth; also, a local court. [Hist.] To which folkmote they all with one consent Agreed to travel. Spenser.

the established form of law. That free government which we have so dearly purchased, free commonwealth. Milton.

The place or office of direction or administration. "The helm of the Commonwealth." Melmoth.

[Obs.] I shall easily grant that novations in religion are a main cause of distempers in commonwealths. Laud.

d Protector (Eng. Hist.), the title of Oliver Cromwell as supreme governor of the British Commonwealth (1653-1658).

s in the whole body of the people, and is exercised by representatives elected by them; a commonwealth. Cf. Democracy, 2.

In the United States, one of the commonwealth, or bodies politic, the people of which make up the body of the nation, and which, under the national constitution, stands in certain specified relations with the national government, and are invested, as commonwealth, with full power in their several spheres over all matte…