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What is the difference between commonweal and commonwealth?

commonweal | commonwealth | Derived terms |

Commonwealth is a related term of commonweal.

Commonwealth is a derived term of commonweal.



As nouns the difference between commonweal and commonwealth

is that commonweal is the common good while commonwealth is a form of government, named for the concept that everything that is not owned by specific individuals or groups is owned collectively by everyone in the governmental unit, as opposed to a state, where the state itself owns such things.

As a proper noun Commonwealth is

the Commonwealth of Nations, a loose confederation of nations based around the former British Empire.

commonweal

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete, or, archaic) The common good.
  • *1843 , '', book 2, ch. XIII, ''In Parliament
    • He had to judge the people as justice Errant […]; to equip his milites , send them duly in war-time to the King; — strive every way that the Commonweal , in his quarter of it, take no damage.

    Derived terms

    * commonwealth

    commonwealth

    English

    (wikipedia commonwealth)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A form of government, named for the concept that everything that is not owned by specific individuals or groups is owned collectively by everyone in the governmental unit, as opposed to a state , where the state itself owns such things.
  • Approximately, a republic.
    • May 19, 1649' ''Be it declared and enacted by this present Parliament and by the Authoritie of the same That the People of England and of all the Dominions and Territoryes thereunto belonging are and shall be and are hereby constituted, made, established, and confirmed to be a '''Commonwealth''' and free State]] And shall from henceforth be Governed as a '''Commonwealth and Free State by the supreame Authoritie of this Nation, the Representatives of the People in Parliam[ent] and by such as they shall appoint and constitute as Officers and Ministers under them for the good of the People and that without any King or House of Lords. [[s:An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth, Act of the Long Parliament.

    Derived terms

    For example, the official name of Australia is Commonwealth of Australia'. It is applied to four states of the United States, to wit, the '''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania''', the '''Commonwealth of Kentucky''', the '''Commonwealth of Massachusetts''', and the '''Commonwealth of Virginia'''. Also used by self-governing, semi-autonomous units such as the ' Commonwealth of Puerto Rico .

    Related terms

    * commonweal