Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Republic
Re-pub′lic
(r?-p?b′l?k)
, Noun.
1.
Common weal.
[Obs.]
B. Jonson.
2.
A state in which the sovereign power resides in the whole body of the people, and is exercised by representatives elected by them; a commonwealth. Cf.
Democracy
, 2. ☞ In some ancient states called republics the sovereign power was exercised by an hereditary aristocracy or a privileged few, constituting a government now distinctively called an aristocracy. In some there was a division of authority between an aristocracy and the whole body of the people except slaves. No existing republic recognizes an exclusive privilege of any class to govern, or tolerates the institution of slavery.
Republic of letters
, The collective body of literary or learned men.
Webster 1828 Edition
Republic
REPUB'LIC
,Noun.
1.
A commonwealth; a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected by the people. In modern usage, it differs from a democracy or democratic state, in which the people exercise the powers of sovereignty in person. Yet the democracies of Greece are often called republics.2.
Common interest; the public. [Not in use.]Republic of letters, the collective body of learned men.