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