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res communes

plural noun res com·mu·nes \ ˌrāskəˈmüˌnās , ˌrēzkəˈmyü(ˌ)nēz \

Definition of res communes

Roman & civil law
:things owned by no one and subject to use by all :things (as light, air, the sea, running water) incapable of entire exclusive appropriation

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Origin and Etymology of res communes

Late Latin, literally, common things

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