commune

Definition

A small community, often rural, whose members share in the ownership of property, and in the division of labour; the members of such a community.

Etymology

From Middle English commune, comune, from Old French comune, commune, from Medieval Latin commūnia, from Latin commūne (“community, state”), from commūnis (“common”). Doublet of comune. See also community, communion, common.

Example Sentences

• "The town of Chu-chou in Hunan Province, carrying out the great directive of Chairman Mao that "educated youths must go to the villages," has put into practice factory-commune links, and under the leadership of cadres, has made a collective settlement of educated youths in commune and brigade farms, forest areas, and tea plantations."
• "For days of happy commune dead."
• "In 1117 the commune and archbishop had separate consuls at Milan."