Translation
public, of the state; common
Examples
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The state was in great danger.
.
They built a public road to the harbour.
gesserunt.
They waged the war by public decision.
aedificatum .
The temple was built with public money.
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We put the common good before our own.
Publicus, publica, publicum means belonging to the people, and it descends from populus by way of an older poplicus, with the vowel pulled across by pubes.
The force of it is narrower than English "public": it is the state's, not merely everyone's. Res publica is the commonwealth, ager publicus is state-owned land, publica pecunia is the treasury's money, and a servus publicus is owned by the city. The neuter as a noun, publicum, means public property or public revenue, and in publico means out of doors, in public view. Its opposite is privatus. Note that the verb publico means "to confiscate to the state" at least as often as "to publish", which tells you where the word's weight sits.
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publicus: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "publicus" (public, of the state; common): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 7.