[A rendering of L. locus communis = Gr. κοινὸς τόπος, in Aristotle simply τόπος, explained by Cicero (Inv. II. xiv. § 47 et seq.) as a general theme or argument applicable to many particular cases. In later times, collections of such general topics were called loci communes. Originally two words, in senses 1–5; afterwards hyphened in senses 3–8; now usually written as one word in senses 5–8, and the closely connected adjective use.
As in similar combinations of two words each having its own accent, the stress has shifted from co·mmon pla·ce, to co:mmon-pla·ce, co·mmon-pla:ce, co·mmonplace. Walker and Smart have the second; most modern dictionaries have the third or fourth. In composition the shift of stress has generally not proceeded so far.]
A. sb. *As two words.
† 1. With the ancient rhetoricians: A passage of general application, such as may serve as the basis of argument; a leading text cited in argument.
[1531. Elyot. Gov., I. xiv. Hauyng almoste all the places whereof they shall fetche their raisons, called of Oratours loci communes.]
1549. Latimer, 3rd Serm. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 101. I haue a commune place to the ende, yf my memory fayle me, Beati qui audiunt verbum dei, et custodiunt illud.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 412 b. Alledging out of Scripture itself (besides the common places yt have bene usually set out by others) certein new testimonies culled out by a certein new ingenious pollicy.
† b. The text of a sermon or discourse; a theme, topic. Obs.
1549. Latimer, 5th Serm. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 136. Thys commune place … was very well handeled the laste Sondaye.
1597. Bacon, Ess., Discourse (Arb.), 14. Some haue certaine Common places and Theames, wherein they are good, and want varietie. Ibid. (1605), Adv. Learn., I. iii. § 2. It were good to leave the common place in commendation of poverty to some friar to handle.
1627. Donne, Serm., cxxxii. V. 370. The fear of God … was a pregnant and a plentiful Common place for him to preach upon.
† 2. An exercise or thesis on some set theme. Obs.
1665. Surv. Aff. Netherl., 168. After they have performed their Sermon and Common-place.
1715. F. Brokesby, Life H. Dodwell, 19. His Common Places, that is, Exercises like Sermons, which were delivered in the College Chappel, shew him to be a good Scholar.
3. A striking or notable passage, noted, for reference or use, in a book of common places or COMMONPLACE-BOOK.
[Cf. 1525. Melanchthon, Loci Communes; 1527. Eckius, Enchiridion Locorum Communium.]
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., Transl. Pref. (1634), 3. Many great learned men have written books of Commonplaces of our Religion, as Melancton, Sarcerius, and other.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, A iij. I have … employed my diligence in collecting these common places.
1656. H. More, Antid. Ath., II. vi.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 211. When all a Student knows of what he reads Is not in’s own, but under general Heads Of Common-places.
1704. Swift, Mechan. Oper. Spirit (1711), 277. Whatever in my small Reading occurs, concerning this our Fellow-Creature [Ass], I do never fail to set it down by way of Common Place.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 22, ¶ 6. Having by me, in my Book of Common Places, enough to enable me to finish a very sad one [tragedy] by the Fifth of next month.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 206, ¶ 15. The only common places of his memory are his meals; and if you ask him at what time an event happened, he considers whether he heard it after a dinner of turbot or venison.
1824. Macaulay, Misc. Writ. (Rtldg.), 46. Petrarch.
† 4. A collection of common places, a commonplace-book. Obs.
1565–6. (title) The Sermonde in the Wall, thereunto annexed, the Common Place of Patryk Hamylton.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, Ded. (1673), 7. Gesner relateth every mans opinion, like a common place or dictionary.
1666. (title) Torriano’s Common Place of Italian Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases.
1728. Pope, Dunc., I. 139. A folio Common-place … of all his works the base.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VI. ix. The famous story of Alexander and Clytus … entered in my common-place under the title Drunkenness.
** As one word; co·mmon-place, co·mmonplace.
5. A common or ordinary topic; an opinion or statement generally accepted or taken for granted; a stock theme or subject of remark, an every-day saying. Slightingly: A platitude or truism.
1560–1. 1st Bk. Discip. Ch. Scot., xii. (1836), 72. He must bind himselfe to his text, that he enter not in digression or in explaining common places.
1597. Bacon, Coulers Good & Evill, No. 10 (Arb.), 153. The common place of extolling the beginning of euery thing.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. x. 176. I know that some have a Common-place against Common-place-books.
a. 1745. Swift, Wks. (1841), II. 120. The trite common-places of servile, injudicious flattery.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 497. The commonplaces which all sects repeat so fluently when they are enduring oppression, and forget so easily when they are able to retaliate it.
1875. Jowett, Plato, III. 155. The paradoxes of one age often become the commonplaces of the next.
† b. Applied to a person who is the common topic or theme of remark. Obs.
1636. Healey, Epictetus’ Man., xxix. 34. Prepare thy selfe to bee … the common-place of the multitude of mockers.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1702), I. IV. 230. The Papists were the most Popular Common-place, and the Butt against whom all the Arrows were directed.
6. Anything common and trite; an ordinary every-day object, action, or occurrence.
1802. Wordsw., To Daisy (2nd poem), 5. Thou unassuming Common-place Of Nature, with that homely face.
1850. Maurice, Mor. & Met. Philos., 83. A man whose eyes are in his head … observes commonplaces, and thinks of them.
1879. Dixon, Brit. Cyprus, ix. 79. Let me recount the story of a day; a day of common-places.
7. collect. Commonplace matter; triviality.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., IV. § 2. A subject upon which there has been a world of commonplace.
1754. Richardson, Grandison (1766), VI. lv. 362. Common subjects afford only commonplace.
1801. Fuseli, Lect. Art, ii. (1848), 398. Grouping engrossed composition, and poured a deluge of gay common-place over the platfonds, panels, and cupolas.
1866. Motley, Dutch Rep., II. iv. 211. This fine strain of eloquent commonplace.
8. Commonplace quality, commonplaceness.
1842. T. Martin, My Namesake, in Fraser’s Mag. Dec. There is no getting over the commonplace of the cognomen.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., ii. (1875), 74. Where … is the note of provinciality in Addison? I answer, in the commonplace of his ideas.
B. adj. [attributive use of A.; originally hyphened, and now written as one word.]
1. Of the nature of a commonplace; having nothing out of the common; devoid of originality or novelty; trite, trivial, hackneyed.
a. of persons.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., II. ii. Ther’s Aristotle, a mere common-place fellow.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 11, ¶ 1. A Common-Place Talker.
1851. Helps, Friends in C., II. 5. Any of those whom we consider common-place people.
1885. Spectator, 30 May, 704/1. He is never frivolous, though not seldom commonplace and trivial.
b. of words or things.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 101. Such common-place stuff … that one cannot tell where nor when they were written.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 155, ¶ 3. A light Conversation of Common-place Jests.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Mor. T. (1816), I. xiv. 112. The most wretched, tame, common-place performance.
1886. Morley, H. Martineau, Crit. Misc. III. 177. The commonplace virtues of industry and energy.
2. The commonplace: that which is commonplace, commonplaceness.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, xv. A frontless, arrogant, decorous slip of the common-place.
1883. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, I. 1. The house … was a very type and embodiment of the commonplace.
C. Comb., as † commonplaceman, one who uses common-places (senses 1–3); a dealer in trite sayings; † commonplace-wise adv., in the manner of a commonplace.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 366. [He] that collected, common-place-wise, out of S. Chrysostomes Works, those passages, etc.
1622. J. Hume, Jewes Deliv., vii. 108. I purpose not to discourse of Prayer common-place-wise.
1627. W. Sclater, Exp. 2 Thess. (1629), 216. Iustice … whereto also Popish commonplace-men referre mercy, and the workes thereof, as to their head.
1692. Norris, Refl. Ess. Hum. Und., 41. I hate your Common-place men of all the Writers in the World.
1826. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), II. 84/2. The exhausted common-placemen, and the afflicted fool.
Hence Commonplaceism commonplaceness; also, a commonplace; Commonplacish a., somewhat commonplace. (rare.).
1876. Tinsley’s Mag., XIX. 599. An amiable, pretty, commonplacish girl.
1837. Chamb. Jrnl., VII. 18. Commonplaceism per se does not exist. Everybody is interesting to some one or two others.
1882. A. Wilson, Evolution, vi. 97. The application of the foregoing commonplaceisms.
