commons

noun

1. (form-of, plural)plural of common
2. (singular, usually)A public area, especially a dining hall, at a college or university; a similar shared space elsewhere.
3. (singular, usually)A common (common land); especially, a central section of (usually an older) town, designated as a shared area.

   “The Renaissance festival started with the "peasants" meeting in the commons.”

   “The commons is the green space surrounded by the village hall, the school, and the church.”

   “The commons of New England towns are important contributors to their charm.”

4. (figuratively)The mutual good of all; the abstract concept of resources shared by more than one, for example air, water, information.

   “"The tragedy of the commons" is that none wish to make sacrifices of their or their family's interests for the common good.”

5. The common people collectively, the third estate, the people not belonging to the nobility or clergy.

   “We in the name of other Perſean ſtates [i.e. nobles], And commons of this mightie Monarchy, Preſent thee with the Emperiall Diadem.”

6. (historical)The free burghers/bourgeoisie of a given town, taken collectively.
7. (euphemistic, obsolete)An outhouse.
8. (UK, obsolete)Food served at a fixed rate from the college buttery, distinguished from battels.

   “At the same time, the fashion at Oxford of confining lunch to a "commons" of bread and butter and a glass of beer till the crew reaches Putney (when a little meat is allowed,) is unreasonable.”

9. Food in general; rations.

   “short commons”

verb

1. (form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person)third-person singular simple present indicative of common

name

1. (Canadian, UK)The House of Commons, part of the parliament under the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.

   “Faced with defeat in the Commons, the Government cancelled and re-advertised the contract, the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company's offer being now accepted for the sea part of the route.”

2. A surname.