COMMONWEALTH


Meaning of COMMONWEALTH in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ -ˌwelth also ]

-ˌweltth noun

Date: 15th century

1. archaic : commonweal 2

2. : a nation, state, or other political unit: as

a. : one founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement of the people for the common good

b. : one in which supreme authority is vested in the people

c. : republic

3. capitalized

a. : the English state from the death of Charles I in 1649 to the Restoration in 1660

b. : protectorate 1b

4. : a state of the U.S. — used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

5. capitalized : a federal union of constituent states — used officially of Australia

6. often capitalized : an association of self-governing autonomous states more or less loosely associated in a common allegiance (as to the British crown)

7. often capitalized : a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S. — used officially of Puerto Rico and of the Northern Mariana Islands

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.