Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Citizen?

\Cit"i*zen\, n. [OE. citisein, OF. citeain, F. citoyen, fr. cit['e] city. See {City}, and cf. {Cit}.] 1. One who enjoys the freedom and privileges of a city; a freeman of a city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or one not entitled to its franchises. That large body of the working men who were not counted as citizens and had not so much as a vote to serve as an anodyne to their stomachs. --G. Eliot. 2. An inhabitant of a city; a townsman. --Shak. 3. A person, native or naturalized, of either sex, who owes allegiance to a government, and is entitled to reciprocal protection from it. Note: This protection is . . . national protection, recognition of the individual, in the face of foreign nations, as a member of the state, and assertion of his security and rights abroad as well as at home. --Abbot 4. One who is domiciled in a country, and who is a citizen, though neither native nor naturalized, in such a sense that he takes his legal status from such country.
\Cit"i*zen\, a. 1. Having the condition or qualities of a citizen, or of citizens; as, a citizen soldiery. 2. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a city; characteristic of citizens; effeminate; luxurious. [Obs.] I am not well, But not so citizen a wanton as To seem to die ere sick. --Shak.