/siv"i tas'/ ; Lat. /kee"wi tahs'/ , n. , pl. civitates /siv'i tay"teez/ ; Lat. /kee'wi tah"tays/ .
1. the body of citizens who constitute a state, esp. a city-state, commonwealth, or the like.
2. citizenship, esp. as imparting shared responsibility, a common purpose, and sense of community.
[ civitas. See CITY ]