civitas

[ siv-i-tas; Latin kee-wi-tahs ]

noun

, plural civ·i·ta·tes [siv-i-, tey, -teez, kee-wi-, tah, -teys].

1. the body of citizens who constitute a state, especially a city-state, commonwealth, or the like.
2. citizenship, especially as imparting shared responsibility, a common purpose, and sense of community.

Word History and Origins

Origin of civitas¹

From Latin cīvitās; literally, “commmunity of citizens, citizenship,” equivalent to cīvis “citizen, fellow citizen” + -tās -ty ²( def )

Example Sentences

One answer resides in the belief, still ingrained in our civitas, that Americans have a shared sense of purpose and destiny.

From The Daily Beast

Civitas opulenta, dives, fecunda, in qua nemo vivat otiosus.

From Project Gutenberg

Augustine's Civitas Dei was the first attempt at a world history based on the idea of the religious vocation of mankind.

From Project Gutenberg

Sed arma sumere non ante cuiquam moris, qum civitas suffecturum probaverit.

From Project Gutenberg

Vale civitas, valete castelli parvi; relicti estis propter aquam et non per vim inimicorum!'

From Project Gutenberg

Wolff's conception of the Law of Nations is influenced by his conception of the civitas gentium maxima.

From Project Gutenberg