common English · revision 3531

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=la commūnis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkɒm.ən/, US /ˈkɑː.mən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|commune]], [[bor|fro|comun|t=common, general, free, open, public]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|commūnis|t=in common, public, shared by all; general; familiar]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) Old Latin [[m|la|comoinis]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) formed from [[m|la|com-|t=together]] and the base of [[m|la|mūnus|t=office, duty]] and [[m|la|mūnia|t=public duties]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) so that the word first meant “sharing burdens”.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline reconstructs [[ine-pro|*ko-moin-i-|t=held in common]], from [[m|ine-pro|*mei-|t=to change, go, move]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The Old French word may have been reinforced by the Frankish cognate of Old English [[m|ang|gemǣne|t=common]] and German [[m|de|gemein]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[mean]], “low”, [[commune]], [[communicate]] and [[municipal]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Belonging to all, shared by more than one: before 1300^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) or about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word has been used disparagingly of women and criminals since about 1300.^(Etymonline) “Belonging to all mankind” is from 1375,^(OED 1989) and “general, of general application” from about 1380.^(OED 1989) “Usual, of frequent occurrence” and, of things, “ordinary, not excellent” are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and “not distinguished, of the general mass” from about 1400.^(Etymonline) ''Common pleas'', civil actions between subjects, is a 13th-century term.^(Etymonline) The noun meant a fellowship or brotherhood about 1300,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the common people before 1300,^(OED 1989) and land held in common from 1479^(OED 1989) or the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) In law, the right to use another's land, as for pasture, is a ''common'' from about 1386.^(OED 1989) ''Common stock'' is from 1888.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – belonging to all.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – noun, a fellowship.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – disparaging, of women and criminals.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1375 – belonging to all mankind.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1386 – right of common, in law.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – usual; ordinary.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1479 – common land.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1888 – ''common stock''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Shared by two or more; joint.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of the community as a whole; [[public]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Widespread; occurring often; usual.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Without special rank or status; [[ordinary]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of no special quality; coarse or [[vulgar]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Of a noun, naming any member of a class.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A tract of land belonging to or used by a whole community.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(law)'' The right to use another's land, as for pasture.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(archaic)'' The common people.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[commonly]]

+ * [[commonness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[commons]]

+ * [[commoner]]

+ * [[commonwealth]]

+ * [[commune]]

+ * [[communicate]]

+ * [[community]]

+ * [[municipal]]

+ * [[mean]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''common'' with ''ordinary'', ''familiar'', ''vulgar'' and ''general''.^(AHD) In Ireland ''common'' was a game like hockey, and the curved stick used in it.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}