commons

Also a form of commonplural of common

A public area, especially a dining hall, at a college or university; a similar shared space elsewhere.

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.

figurativeThe 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.

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.

historicalThe free burghers/bourgeoisie of a given town, taken collectively.

obsoleteAn outhouse.

obsoleteFood 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.

Food in general; rations.

short commons

Without eggs, cocoa-nuts, or plantains, we had very short commons, and the boisterous weather being unpropitious for fishing, we had to live on what few eatable birds we could shoot, with an occasional cuscus, or eastern opossum, the only quadruped, except pigs, inhabiting the island.

Also a form of commonthird-person singular simple present indicative of common