Main Entry: ge·mein·schaft

Pronunciation: \gə-ˈmīn-ˌshäft\

Function: noun

Etymology: German, community, from gemein common, general (from Old High German gimeini) + -schaft -ship — more at mean

Date: 1937

: a spontaneously arising organic social relationship characterized by strong reciprocal bonds of sentiment and kinship within a common tradition; also : a community or society characterized by this relationship — compare gesellschaft