Obs. exc. Hist. Also commonwealth-man. [Cf. statesman, townsman, tradesman, etc.]
† 1. One devoted to the interests of the commonwealth; good c. = good citizen, patriot. Obs.
1579. J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, D j b. More like Basciaes to the great Turke, then Christian commonwealthmen.
1593. Tell-Troth’s New Y. Gift, 37. He … can be but a bad common wealthes man which is an ill husband.
1622. T. Scott, Belg. Pismire, 28. These … degenerating from the nobilitie and vertue of their Ancestors, become of Common-wealths-men Common-woes-men.
1677. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 109. You are not a good Commonwealths-man, if you do not give me leave to Print this; for it will be a general good to the Clothing-Trade.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 385. Their next Heir cannot well be a worse Commonwealth’s-man.
2. Hist. An adherent of the English Commonwealth in the 17th c.; also gen., an adherent of a republican government, a republican (obs.).
1658–9. Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 210. To build upon the Union made by those Commonwealth-men, I cannot consent.
1683. Apol. Prot. France, v. 62. The greatest cry against the French Protestants, as Commonwealthsmen and Traytors.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Parnell. Thomas Parnell was the son of a commonwealthsman … who, at the Restoration, left … Cheshire … and settled in Ireland.
1824. New Monthly Mag., X. 573. The characters of the republicans or commonwealthsmen.
