Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Commons |
CommonsNoun1. A piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area; "they went for a walk in the park". 2. A pasture subject to common use. 3. Class composed of persons lacking noble or knightly or gentle rank. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "commons" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1591. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Literature | Commons To put one on short commons. To stint him, to give him scanty meals. In the University of Cambridge the food provided for each student at breakfast is called his commons; hence food in general or meals. To come into commons. To enter a society in which the members have a common or general dinner table. Source: Brewer's Dictionary. |
Slang in 1811 | COMMONS. The house of commons; the necessary house. Source: 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Synonyms: CommonsSynonyms: common (n), common land (n), commonality (n), commonalty (n), green (n), park (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Fasting | Fast, jour maigre; fast day, banyan day; Lent, quadragesima; Ramadan, Ramazan; spare diet, meager diet; lenten diet, lenten entertainment; soupe maigre, short commons, Barmecide feast; short rations. |
Food | Food, pabulum; aliment, nourishment, nutriment; sustenance, sustentation, sustention; nurture, subsistence, provender, corn, feed, fodder, provision, ration, keep, commons, board; commissariat; (provision); prey, forage, pasture, pasturage; fare, cheer; diet, dietary; regimen; belly timber, staff of life; bread, bread and cheese. |
Insufficiency | Dole, mite, pittance; short allowance, short commons; half rations; banyan day. |
Mart | Mall, suburban mall, commons, pedestrian mall; shopping street. |
Tribunal | Senate house, town hall, theater; House of Commons, House of Lords; statehouse, townhouse. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Commons |
| English words defined with "commons": Astor ♦ backbench, backbencher, Barons of the Cinque Ports ♦ Commonable, crossbench, crossbencher ♦ Doctors' Commons ♦ Edward III ♦ Fellow-commoner, frontbench, frontbencher ♦ Gunpowder Plot ♦ Houses of Parliament ♦ Intercommon ♦ Member of Parliament ♦ Nancy Witcher Astor ♦ Order book ♦ Parliamentarian ♦ The ministerial benches, third estate, Tiers etat, To count out, Treasury bench, Turf ant ♦ Viscountess Astor. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "commons": Amiel ♦ BALFOUR, Bone to pick ♦ Commons in Gross, Count out the House ♦ Dagger-scene in the House of Commons ♦ GEORGE-LLOYD, Gordon Riots ♦ Lucus a non Lucendo ♦ NUMBERS ♦ Onslow, Order! ♦ PRINCES ♦ Sermon Lane, Six Members, Speaker's Eye, St. Stephen's ♦ Wayleaves. (references) |
| Domain | Title | ||
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Periodicals |
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Music |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan shaken up by "Commons Vote". Credit: Library of Congress. |  | The right honble. Chas. Wolfran Cornwall Esq., Speaker of the House of Commons. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Trolley cars near Boston Commons, Boston, Massachusetts. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | East facade; Wilson Commons, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, 30 April 1991. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Franklin's examination by the House of Commons in 1766. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. Commons Building, Stearn hall dining room. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Goucher College, Mary Fisher Hall, Towson, Maryland. Commons north. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Nuclear waste : death dumps are safe, says Mrs. Thatcher : bury it under the House of Commons. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Rally, Boston Commons : commemorate Kent, Augusta, Jackson : strike [and] march May 5 ... Credit: Library of Congress. | ||
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Oscar Wilde | Only people who look dull ever get into the House of Commons, and only people who are dull ever succeed there. |
Prime Minister Winston Churchill | I am a child of the House of Commons. I was brought up in my father's house to believe in democracy. "Trust the people" -- that was his message. |
Sir James Mackintosh | The commons, faithful to their system, remained in a wise and masterly inactivity. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
John Locke | 1690 | We see in commons, which remain so by compact, that it is the taking any part of what is common, and removing it out of the state nature leaves it in, which begins the property; without which the common is of no use. (Second Treatise of Government) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Economic History | Canada | Canada's parliament consists of an elected House of Commons and an appointed Senate. (references) |
Canada | Legislative power rests with the 301-member Commons, which is elected for a period not to exceed 5 years. (references) | |
United Kingdom | The focus of legislative power is the 650-member House of Commons, which has sole jurisdiction over finance. (references) | |
Political Economy | Canada | The current federal government was elected on November 27, 2000, when the Liberal Party won 172 of the 301 seats in the House of Commons. (references) |
Uk | Parliaments are elected for a five-year maximum term, although the government of the day can call an election at any time, or be forced to call one by losing a vote of confidence in the House of Commons. (references) | |
Uk | The three to eight senior policy positions in each department (Secretary of State, Minister of State, and junior ministers) are drawn from the ranks of the ruling party, generally from the House of Commons and the House of Lords. (references) | |
Political Rights | Canada | In the Parliament, 62 of 301 members in the House of Commons are women, and 33 of 105 senators are women. (references) |
United Kingdom | The lower chamber of Parliament (the House of Commons, the center of legislative power) is elected in periodic, multiparty elections. (references) | |
United Kingdom | The Government is formed on the basis of a majority of seats in the House of Commons, which are contested in elections held at least every 5 years. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Commons" is generally used as a noun (proper) -- approximately 50.80% of the time. "Commons" is used about 3,687 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (proper) | 50.8% | 1,873 | 4,555 |
| Noun (common) | 48.12% | 1,774 | 4,756 |
| Noun (plural) | 1.08% | 40 | 54,274 |
| Total | 100.00% | 3,687 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes the usage of "commons" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified. |
| Name | Usage/Gender | Usage per 100 million Persons | Rank in USA |
| Commons | Last name | 1,000 | 13,319 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits. | |||
Expressions using "commons": Doctors' Commons ♦ house of commons ♦ short commons ♦ the commons ♦ the house of commons ♦ To be on short commons. Additional references. | |
| Hypenated Usage | |
Ending with "commons": ex-commons. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "commons"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Albanian | Tokë E Bashkësisë, Dhoma E Përfaqësuesve (common). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabic | مجلس العموم البريطانية, حديقة عامة (garden, park, public garden), تعليقات. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bulgarian | Провизии, Народът, Третото Съсловие. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 共同性. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Czech | Prostý Lid, Dolní Snìmovna (house of commons). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish | Underhuset (House of Commons, Lower House). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dutch | commons, erfgoed van de mensheid. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnish | alahuone (the House of Commons). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | Chambre Des Communes (house of commons), patrimoine de l'humanité, Les Communes. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | Unterhaus (house of Commons, lower chamber, lower house), Mensa (cafeteria, canteen, refectory). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | Αστοί, Απλόσ Λαόσ, ίάτω 'ουλή, ίοινά, ολλοί. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hebrew | ִמון ִעם. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | Köznép (common people, populace, rank and file, ranks). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | Popolo (commonalty, crowd, folk, mob, nation, people, populace). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Kanji | 入会地 . (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Katakana | いりあいち. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Korean | 공 지. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manx | yn chadjinaght (the masses), pobble cadjin. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | ommonscay câmara comum, refeitório comum, provisões (cache, munition, prog, provender, viands, victual). (various references) Starea A Treia, Porţie Fixã De Mâncare. (various references) Простой Народ, Палата Общин, Третье Сословие. (various references) donji dom (house of commons). (various references) Los Comunes. (various references) Ofrälse (untitled), Folk I Allmänhet. (various references) Paylaşılan Yiyecekler, Halk Tabakası (mob), Avam (populace, the common people, the hoi polloi, the people, the vulgar, vulgar herd), Asil Olmayanlar. (various references) Простий Народ, Провізія, Палата "ромад. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Sumerian | 3100 BCE-2500 BCE | agar. (various references) |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | plebe, plebem, plebi, plebis, plebs. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "commons": commonsense, commonsensible, commonsensical, commonsensically. (additional references) | |
| |
"Commons" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: codmans, comans, comins, commense, Commenus, Commins, Commmons, commone, commong, commonise, commonish, Communs, Commynes, Comnenos, comont, Comtois, Cormont, cromornes, Cumans, cumonck, Cumont, Kooymans. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "commons" (pronounced kÄ"munz) |
| 4 | -m u n z | antihistamines, caymans, demons, determines, examines, famines, firmans, Gammons, germans, humans, lemans, lemons, omens, regimens, romans, salmons, sermons, shamans, Siemens, specimens, summons, vitamins. |
| 3 | -u n z | abandons, abbreviations, abductions, aberrations, abortions, abrasions, abstentions, abstractions, academicians, accommodations, accordions, accreditations, accumulations, accusations, acquisitions, actions, adaptations, addictions, additions, administrations, admissions, admonitions, adoptions, affections, affiliations, affirmations, afflictions, aggressions, aliens, allegations, allergens, allocations, allusions, alterations, altercations, ambitions, ammunitions, amphibians, amplifications, amputations, animations, annotations, anticipations, antigens, antitoxins, apparitions, appellations, applications, apprehensions, appropriations, approximations, aprons, arbitrations, arcadians, arsons, artisans, aspens, aspersions, aspirations, assassinations, assassins, assertions, associations, assumptions, attentions, attractions, auctions, auditions, authentications, authorizations, Avions, awakens, badmintons, balbriggans, barbarians, bargains, barons, barrens, basins, bastions, battalions, beacons, beckons, bedouins, billions, blackens, bourbons, brackens, brightens, broadens, bruins, bulletins, burdens, buttons, cabins, calculations, cancellations, cannons, canons, cantons, canyons, capitalizations, captains, captions, carbons, carcinogens, cardigans, carnations, cartons, castrations, catamarans, catkins, cautions, celebrations, centenarians, certifications, champions, chaplains, characterizations, charlatans, chickens, chieftains, circulations, citations, citizens, civilians, civilizations, clarifications, classifications, clinicians, coalitions, collaborations, collections, collegians, collisions, combinations, comedians, commemorations, commissions, communications, companions, comparisons, compensations, competitions, compilations, completions, complexions, complications, compositions, compulsions, computations, concentrations, conceptions, concessions, conclusions, concoctions, concussions, condemnations, conditions, confections, confessions, configurations, confirmations, confrontations, confusions, congratulations, congregations, congresspersons, conjugations, conjunctions, connections, connotations, consecrations, considerations, consolations, consolidations, constellations, constitutions, constrictions, constructions, consultations, contentions, contortions, contractions, contradictions, contraptions, contrarians, contributions, contusions, conventions, conversations, conversions, convictions, convulsions, cooperations, corporations, corrections, correlations, corruptions, cottons, cousins, cravens, creations, crustaceans, curtains, cushions, custodians, dalmatians, Daltons, dandelions, deacons, decapitations, deceptions, decisions, declarations, decorations, deductions, deepens, defections, definitions, degradations, delegations, deletions, deliberations, delicatessens, delusions, demarcations, demonstrations, demotions, denationalizations, denizens, denominations, denunciations, depictions, deportations, depositions, depreciations, depredations, depressions, deprivations, descriptions, desecrations, desertions, designations, destinations, detentions, determinations, detonations, devaluations, deviations, Dickens, dietitians, digressions, dimensions, dioxins, directions, disciplinarians, disciplines, discolorations, discussions, dislocations, dispositions, disruptions, dissections, distinctions, distortions, distractions, distributions, diversifications, diversions, divisions, Dobsons, doctrines, dolphins, donations, dozens, dragons, dramatizations, dungeons, duplications, durations, editions, educations, egyptians, elections, electricians, electrocutions, elevations, elevens, eliminations, elocutions, emanations, emigrations, emissions, emotions, endorphins, engines, environs, envisions, eons, equations, erections, eruptions, estimations, estrogens, evacuations, evaluations, evasions, evens, evictions, exacerbations, exactions, exaggerations, examinations, excavations, exceptions, exclamations, exclusions, excursions, executions, exemptions, exertions, exhibitions, exhortations, expansions, expectations, expeditions, expirations, explanations, explorations, explosions, expositions, expressions, expropriations, expulsions, extensions, extractions, fabrications, factions, falcons, fashions, federations, felons, fictions, flirtations, fluctuations, fluorocarbons, formations, formulations, fortifications, fortunes, foundations, fountains, fractions, frictions, frightens, frustrations, functions, galleons, gallons, gardens, gascons, generalizations, generations, geriatricians, Gibbons, givens, globulins, gluttons, gorgons, Gowans, grabens, gradations, graduations, gremlins, gryphons, guardians, gyrations, hallucinations, happens, hardens, hastens, havens, heavens, heightens, heroines, herons, hesitations, historians, hooligans, horizons, hospitalizations, humanitarians, humiliations, hydrocarbons, hydrogens, identifications, illusions, illustrations, imaginations, imagines, imitations, immunizations, impatiens, imperfections, implications, impressions, improvisations, inaugurations, incarnations, incisions, inclinations, inclusions, incorporations, incursions, indications, indiscretions, infections, infestations, inflections, informations, infractions, infusions, inhibitions, injections, injunctions, innovations, inoculations, inscriptions, insinuations, inspections, inspirations, installations, institutions, instructions, integrations, intentions, interactions, interceptions, interconnections, interjections, intermissions, interpretations, interrogations, interruptions, intersections, interventions, intestines, intimations, introductions, intrusions, inundations, invasions, inventions, investigations, invitations, ions, irritations, jillions, Jordans, jurisdictions, justifications, juxtapositions, kindergartens, kitchens, kittens, lacerations, leavens, legions, lengthens, lesbians, lesions, lessens, lessons, liberalizations, libertarians, librarians, lichens, likens, limitations, linens, lions, lippens, liquidations, listens, litigations, locations, loosens, lotions, lubricants, luncheons, machinations, magicians, magnifications, maidens, malformations, malfunctions, mandarins, manifestations, manipulations, mansions, margins, Marlins, martens, martians, masons, mathematicians, matrons, mavens, medallions, medications, medicines, meditations, melons, mentions, metropolitans, mignons, migrations, millions, minions, ministrations, miscalculations, misconceptions, miscreations, misfortunes, misperceptions, misrepresentations, missions, mittens, mobilizations, modifications, Morgans, motions, motivations, mountains, muffins, mullens, munitions, musicians, mutations, mutilations, myrmidons, nationalizations, nations, negotiations, neurosurgeons, newspersons, nominations, nonwovens, notations, notifications, notions, objections, obligations, observations, obsessions, obstetricians, obstructions, occasions, occupations, oceans, omissions, onions, opens, operations, opinions, oppressions, opticians, options, orations, orchestrations, organizations, organs, orientations, originations, orphans, oscillations, ovations, ovens, paeans, palpitations, pardons, parliamentarians, Parsons, participations, partisans, partitions, passions, pathogens, patients, patricians, patrons, pavilions, pedestrians, pediatricians, pelicans, penguins, penicillins, pensions, peons, perceptions, perforations, permissions, permutations, persons, persuasions, perturbations, petitions, physicians, pigeons, Pipkins, pistons, plantains, plantations, plebeians, poisons, politicians, pollens, polyhedrons, pontifications, populations, porcelains, portions, positions, possessions, potions, precautions, preconceptions, preconditions, predictions, predilections, predispositions, preoccupations, preparations, prescriptions, presentations, presumptions, pretensions, prisons, privations, privatizations, processions, proclamations, productions, professions, prognostications, prohibitions, projections, promotions, pronunciations, proportions, propositions, prosecutions, prostaglandins, protections, protestations, protozoans, provisions, provocations, publications, pumpkins, puritans, qualifications, questions, quickens, quotations, ramifications, rationalizations, rations, ravens, reactions, realizations, reasons, rebellions, recapitalizations, receptions, recessions, recisions, recitations, reckons, recollections, recommendations, reconciliations, reconstructions, recriminations, redemptions, reductions, reflections, regions, registrations, regressions, regulations, rehabilitations, rejections, relations, religions, relocations, remissions, renditions, renegotiations, renovations, reopens, reorganizations, reparations, repercussions, repetitions, repossessions, representations, repressions, reproductions, republicans, reputations, rescissions, reservations, resignations, resolutions, restorations, restrictions, reunions, revaluations, revelations, reverberations, revisions, revocations, revolutions, rhetoricians, ribbons, Robins, rotations, ruins, ruminations, saddens, samaritans, sanctions, sapiens, satisfactions, scallions, scorpions, seasons, secretions, sections, selections, seminarians, sensations, separations, sessions, sevens, sharpens, shenanigans, shortens, simulations, siphons, sirens, situations, skeletons, slackens, slogans, smoothens, snapdragons, softens, solicitations, solutions, sovereigns, sovrans, specifications, speculations, spokespersons, squadrons, stallions, stations, statisticians, sterilizations, stiffens, stipulations, straightens, strangulations, strengthens, sturgeons, subdivisions, subluxations, submissions, subscriptions, substitutions, suburbans, suggestions, sultans, summations, superstitions, suppositions, surgeons, suspensions, suspicions, sweetens, syndications, tabulations, tacticians, talons, tamarins, technicians, telecommunications, televisions, temptations, tendons, tensions, terminations, theologians, theoreticians, thickens, threatens, tightens, titans, toboggans, tokens, totalitarians, toughens, toxins, traditions, transactions, transcriptions, transformations, transfusions, transgressions, transitions, translations, transmissions, tribulations, trillions, truncheons, tuitions, turbans, unions, unisons, urchins, utopians, vacations, vaccinations, valuations, variations, vegetarians, versions, veterans, veterinarians, vibrations, villains, violations, virgins, visions, visitations, vocations, wagons, wardens, warrens, watermelons, weakens, weapons, widens, woolens, workstations, worsens, yaupons, zillions. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "c-m-m-n-o-o-s" | |
-1 letter: common. | |
-2 letters: coons, monos, moons, nomos. | |
-3 letters: cons, coon, coos, mocs, moms, mono, mons, moon, moos, noms, soon. | |
-4 letters: con, coo, cos, moc, mom, mon, moo, mos, nom, noo, nos, oms, ons, som, son. | |
-5 letters: mm, mo, no, om, on, os, so. | |
| Words containing the letters "c-m-m-n-o-o-s" | |
+1 letter: consomme. | |
+2 letters: commandos, commoners, commonest, consommes, monoecism, monosomic. | |
+3 letters: commandoes, commission, commonages, commonness, commotions, communions, comonomers, conformism, incommodes, monoecisms, monosomics. | |
+4 letters: commissions, commonsense, commonweals, conformisms, consummator, homecomings, monochasium, monochromes, monomaniacs, uncommonest. | |
+5 letters: commentators, comminations, comminutions, commissioned, commissioner, commonalties, commonnesses, commonplaces, commutations, comportments, compromising, condominiums, consummation, consummators, consummatory, countermemos, decommission, discommoding, incommodious, monochromats, monochromist, monorchidism, noncommunist, recommission, uncommonness. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Slideshow 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Quotations: Familiar 8. Quotations: Historic | 9. Quotations: Non-fiction 10. Usage Frequency 11. Names: Frequency 12. Expressions | 13. Expressions: Internet 14. Translations: Modern 15. Translations: Ancient 16. Derivations | 17. Rhymes 18. Anagrams 19. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
