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Webster 1913 Edition

Monopoly

Mo-nop′o-ly

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Monopolies
(#)
.
[L.
monopolium
, Gr. [GREEK], [GREEK];
μόνοσ
alone + [GREEK] to sell.]
1.
The exclusive power, or privilege of selling a commodity; the exclusive power, right, or privilege of dealing in some article, or of trading in some market; sole command of the traffic in anything, however obtained;
as, the proprietor of a patented article is given a
monopoly
of its sale for a limited time; chartered trading companies have sometimes had a
monopoly
of trade with remote regions; a combination of traders may get a
monopoly
of a particular product.
Raleigh held a
monopoly
of cards, Essex a
monopoly
of sweet wines.
Macaulay.
2.
Exclusive possession;
as, a
monopoly
of land
.
If I had a
monopoly
out, they would have part on ’t.
Shakespeare
3.
The commodity or other material thing to which the monopoly relates;
as, tobacco is a
monopoly
in France
.
[Colloq.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Monopoly

MONOP'OLY

,
Noun.
[L.monopolium.] The sole power of vending any species of goods, obtained either by engrossing the articles in market by purchase, or by a license from the government confirming this privilege. Thus the East India Company in Great Britain has a monopoly of the trade to the East Indies, granted to them by charter. Monopolies by individuals obtained by engrossing, are an offense prohibited by law. But a man has by natural right the exclusive power of vending his own produce or manufactures,and to retain that exclusive right is not a monopoly within the meaning of law.

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