A person from, or resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Origins:
Massachusetts does not lend itself well to the typical suffixes (-ian, -er, etc.) attached to the name of a place to refer to someone who is from that place (perhaps because the name is not of English origin.) Thus, commonwealther is used as a reference to the fact that Massachusetts is officially designated as a Commonwealth instead of a State (although there is no legal distinction between a “state” and a “commonwealth” in the United States.).
There are three other "states" in the US that designate themselves as Commonwealths (Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia.) However, the usual suffixes are applied to them (Kentuckian, Pennsylvanian and Virginian) without issue, and so a new word is not needed to describe a resident of one of those states.
Origins:
Massachusetts does not lend itself well to the typical suffixes (-ian, -er, etc.) attached to the name of a place to refer to someone who is from that place (perhaps because the name is not of English origin.) Thus, commonwealther is used as a reference to the fact that Massachusetts is officially designated as a Commonwealth instead of a State (although there is no legal distinction between a “state” and a “commonwealth” in the United States.).
There are three other "states" in the US that designate themselves as Commonwealths (Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia.) However, the usual suffixes are applied to them (Kentuckian, Pennsylvanian and Virginian) without issue, and so a new word is not needed to describe a resident of one of those states.
Bill's not a New Yorker, he's a Commonwealther.
by defenestrator March 20, 2005
Get the commonwealther mug.In the city of Boston, MA, the Commonwealth Crawl is known by most college students.
You start at the far end of Commonwealth Avenue, and as you make your way to the Boston Commons, you take a shot at each statue you pass.
The ultimate drinking game.
You start at the far end of Commonwealth Avenue, and as you make your way to the Boston Commons, you take a shot at each statue you pass.
The ultimate drinking game.
Mike: Did you do the Commonwealth Crawl last night?
Tom: Yeah, I was hammered, but not as bad as Chris who had to be dragged back to the dorm!
Tom: Yeah, I was hammered, but not as bad as Chris who had to be dragged back to the dorm!
by Jenkins McElroy January 1, 2010
Get the Commonwealth Crawl mug.Commonwealth English is a collective term for the perceived standard English language used in the Commonwealth of Nations1 and many Former British Nations where English is at least a common second language. Thus it applys in theory to Australian English, British English, Caribbean English, Canadian English, Hiberno-English (Irish English)2, Hong Kong English3, Indian English (includes Pakistani English), formal Malaysian English, New Zealand English, formal Singapore English (but not colloquial Singlish) and South African English.
by theKeith April 28, 2006
Get the Commonwealth English mug.also known as virginia commonhoe university, this is a fun school with a very diverse group of students. It's a lil sketch in some parts but it's nothing pepper spray cant fix
by ilovefrankocean June 15, 2018
Get the Virginia Commonwealth University mug.Basically the countries ruled by Great Britain. The commonwealth and Commonwealth realm is different,FYI
The Commonwealth comprises 53 countries, across all continents. The members have a combined population of 2.3 billion people, almost a third of the world population, of which 1.26 billion live in India and 94% live in Asia and Africa combined.
The Commonwealth comprises 53 countries, across all continents. The members have a combined population of 2.3 billion people, almost a third of the world population, of which 1.26 billion live in India and 94% live in Asia and Africa combined.
Commonwealth countries include Australia ( hope that referendum doesn't change anything), Canada, Malaysia( My country),New Zealand , India and other countries........ (cause i am not naming all of them)
by ChristopherTZK June 4, 2018
Get the Commonwealth mug.noun. (1) a really cool place to go hang out, largely because it is inhabited by L. Ruhling and M. Hunter, who are awesome kids. Parties in the Commonwealth are often disbanded within 5 minutes of their start time because the raging is too intense.
(2) the scene of countless second semester 2011 parties
(2) the scene of countless second semester 2011 parties
Hey, do you wanna go blow some shit up in the Commonwealth? I heard they're throwin' down tonight.
Did you hear about that one kid who vommed everywhere in the Commonwealth? He couldn't handle the madness.
Did you hear about that one kid who vommed everywhere in the Commonwealth? He couldn't handle the madness.
by heywhatsupnd November 26, 2010
Get the Commonwealth mug.Commonwealth English is the name for a mythical variety of English which is only defined as “not U.S.”, and ignores the fact that the Commonwealth of Nations is an international organization whose membership changes regularly.
There is no such distinct variety defined by either accent, vocabulary, or spelling and orthography. English within the Commonwealth of Nations is diverse – for example, Canadian English is more closely related to (U.S.) American English than to any other variety – while English dialects can cross the bounds of the Commonwealth, like Irish English, spoken in the Republic of Ireland which is left the Commonwealth a half-century ago, and in Northern Ireland a part of the United Kingdom, a charter member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
There is no such distinct variety defined by either accent, vocabulary, or spelling and orthography. English within the Commonwealth of Nations is diverse – for example, Canadian English is more closely related to (U.S.) American English than to any other variety – while English dialects can cross the bounds of the Commonwealth, like Irish English, spoken in the Republic of Ireland which is left the Commonwealth a half-century ago, and in Northern Ireland a part of the United Kingdom, a charter member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Here in Ottawa we speak and write Commonwealth English, same as in Auckland, Karachi, London, and Singapore.
by Michael Zed February 24, 2009
Get the Commonwealth English mug.