civitas

American  

[siv-i-tas, kee-wi-tahs] / ˈsɪv ɪˌtæs, ˈki wɪˌtɑs /

noun

plural

civitates

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.

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Etymology

Origin of civitas

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

Example Sentences

To gain civitas at birth, a person needed to be the child of two citizens.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

In addition to maintaining their frontier with an army, Romans carried on a perpetual debate about citizenship, or civitas, and whether to extend its benefits to different groups.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Bell's book is the year's most promising start on the long road back to civitas.

From Time Magazine Archive

Harvey, a self-educated college dropout, talks a lot about William James, agora, public squares and preaching civitas.

From Time Magazine Archive

In 338 B.C. it was conquered by C. Maenius and became a civitas sine suffragio, but was soon given full rights.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various