communality
UK[ˌkɒmjʊˈnæləti]US[ˌkɑːmjʊˈnæləti]
n
The state or quality of being shared or held in common by a community.
n
A common feature or attribute shared by the members of a group.
Morpheme Breakdown
commun
al
ity
commun
common
al
adjective suffix
ity
noun suffix
Etymology
The word communality is built upon the Latin adjective communis, meaning "common" or "shared by all," which itself likely derives from a combination of com- (together) and munis (obliging, performing services). The suffix -al was added to form the adjective "communal," describing something pertaining to or shared by a community. Finally, the abstract noun-forming suffix -ity was appended, shifting the meaning from a descriptive quality to the formal state or condition of being shared. Thus, communality narrates the conceptual journey from the ancient Roman idea of public duty and shared resources to the modern sociological concept of collective attributes and social cohesion.
Analysis
Structure: commun (common) + al (adjective suffix) + ity (noun suffix)
- commun: From Latin communis, meaning "common, public, shared by all or many." It functions as the core root conveying the sense of sharing.
- al: A Latin-derived suffix used to form adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by" (e.g., communal).
- ity: A Latin-derived suffix (-itas) used to form nouns expressing a state, condition, or quality (e.g., equality, reality).
Examples
A strong sense of communality is essential for the success of the cooperative.
The study aimed to identify the cultural communalities among the diverse immigrant groups.
The communality of interests brought the different factions to the negotiating table.