Dominion vs Commonwealth - What's the difference?

dominion | commonwealth | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between dominion and commonwealth

is that dominion is power or the use of power; sovereignty over something; stewardship, supremacy 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.

dominion

English

Noun

(en noun)

Power or the use of power; sovereignty over something; stewardship, supremacy.

* Bible, Daniel iv. 34

I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion.

* Jowett

To choose between dominion or slavery.

predominance; ascendancy

* Dryden

Objects placed foremost ought have dominion over things confused and transient.

(sometimes, figurative) A kingdom, nation, or other sphere of influence; governed territory.

the dominions of a king

the dominion of the passions

(historical) One of the colonies of the British Empire given self-government through the Statute of Westminster, such as Canada or Newfoundland.

(Biblical tradition) An order of angel in Christian angelology, ranked above angels and below thrones.

* Bible, Colossians 1:16

By him were all things created whether they be thrones, or dominions , or principalities, or powers.

External links

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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 .