Commonwealth

:Alternative meanings: the Commonwealth of Nations or Commonwealth of Independent States

Definition and linguistics

The original phrase "common wealth" or "the common weal" is a calque translation of the Latin term res publica ('public matters'), from which the word republic comes, which was itself used as a synonym for the greek politeia as well as for the republican (i.e. non-monarchical) Roman constitution (in legal theory still in force during the empire, see Principate).

Related Topics:
Calque - Res publica - Republic - Roman - Principate

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The English noun Commonwealth dates originally from the fifteenth century and in different contexts indicates:

Related Topics:
English - Fifteenth century

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• a political unit founded in law by agreement of the people for the common good;
• a federated union of constituent states;
• a republic;
• a Co-operative Commonwealth is the ideal of a society based on cooperative and socialist principles.