COMMON, COMMUNIS, something that belongs to
all alike; is owned or allowed by all; and not confined
to this more than that. In which sense, common stands
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opposed to proper, peculiar, &c. Thus, the earth is
said to be our common mother; in the first or golden
age all things were in common, as well as the sun and
elements: the name animal is common to man and beast;
that of substance to body and spirit.