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Webster 1913 Edition


Colony

Col′o-ny

(kŏl′ō̍-ny̆)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Colonies
(kŏl′ō̍-nĭz)
.
[L.
colonia
, fr.
colonus
farmer, fr.
colere
to cultivate, dwell: cf. F.
colonie
. Cf.
Culture
.]
1.
A company of people transplanted from their mother country to a remote province or country, and remaining subject to the jurisdiction of the parent state;
as, the British
colonies
in America
.
The first settlers of New England were the best of Englishmen, well educated, devout Christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There was never a
colony
formed of better materials.
Ames.
2.
The district or country colonized; a settlement.
4.
A company of persons from the same country sojourning in a foreign city or land;
as, the American
colony
in Paris
.
5.
(Nat. Hist.)
A number of animals or plants living or growing together, beyond their usual range.

Webster 1828 Edition


Colony

COLONY

, n.
1.
A company or body of people transplanted from their mother country to a remote province or country to cultivate and inhabit it, and remaining subject to the jurisdiction of the parent state; as the British colonies in America or the Indies; the Spanish colonies in South America. When such settlements cease to be subject to the parent state, they are no longer denominated colonies.
The first settles of New England were the best of Englishmen, well educated, devout Christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There was never a colony formed of better materials.
2.
The country planted or colonized; a plantation; also, the body of inhabitants in a territory colonized, including the descendants of the first planters. The people, though born in the territory, retain the name of colonists, till they cease to be subjects of the parent state.
3.
A collection of animals; as colonies of shell-fish.

Definition 2024


colony

colony

English

Map showing African colonies (region ruled by another country) in 1913.
A colony (group of organisms living together) of king penguins.

Noun

colony (plural colonies)

  1. A settlement of emigrants who move to a new place, but remain culturally tied to their original place of origin
  2. Region or governmental unit created by another country and generally ruled by another country.
  3. A group of people with the same interests or ethnic origin concentrated in a particular geographic area
  4. A group of organisms of same or different species living together in close association.
  5. A collective noun for rabbits.

Derived terms

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