c-o-m-m-o-n
COMMON means ordinary, frequent, shared by many, or belonging to a community. From Latin communis (shared by all). In Scrabble, COMMON scores 12 base points with valuable double M tiles.
12
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
COMMON embodies the paradox of human existence: we celebrate uniqueness while craving belonging. This six-letter word captures everything from shared resources to ordinary experiences, from mutual understanding to mediocrity. It's the linguistic bridge between "community" and "commonplace," revealing how language shapes our perception of what unites and divides us.
The commons—shared resources like air, water, and public spaces—represent humanity's oldest economic system. Before private property, everything was common. Medieval villages had common lands for grazing; knowledge was held in common by guilds. Today's digital commons (Wikipedia, open-source software) echo ancient sharing traditions. The "tragedy of the commons" warns that shared resources face overuse without regulation. Yet commons also enable innovation—the internet itself is humanity's greatest common resource.
"Common sense" supposedly means obvious wisdom everyone shares. Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" pamphlet sparked American independence by appealing to colonists' shared reasoning. Yet what's "common sense" varies wildly across cultures. Japanese common sense includes removing shoes indoors; American common sense includes tipping servers. This cultural specificity reveals how "common" often means "familiar to my group" rather than truly universal.
Linguistically, "common" spans positive and negative connotations. Common ground enables diplomacy; common cause unites movements. But "common" also implies inferior quality—common versus premium, common versus rare. This duality reflects social hierarchies: aristocrats distinguished themselves from "commoners," yet democracy celebrates the "common man." The word encodes centuries of class struggle in six letters.
Mathematics and science embrace "common"—common denominators enable fraction addition, common factors simplify equations. Biology identifies common ancestors linking species. Computing uses common protocols for communication. These technical uses strip away social baggage, revealing "common" as a tool for finding connections and simplifying complexity.
For Scrabble players, COMMON offers solid scoring with 12 base points. The double M (3 points each) provides half the word's value. COMMON accepts multiple extensions: COMMONLY, COMMONER, COMMONEST, UNCOMMON. The double M and O create parallel play opportunities. As a 6-letter word, COMMON fits well on crowded boards. Strategic players appreciate its flexibility despite moderate scoring.
"Common" derives from Latin "communis" meaning "shared by all" or "general." The root combines "com-" (together) with "munis" (bound by obligation), literally "bound together." This reflects the word's core meaning of shared belonging.
Etymology progression: • Latin: communis (shared, general) • Latin: com + munis (together + obligated) • Old French: comun (12th century) • Middle English: commune (1300s) • Modern English: common (14th century)
Related sharing words: • Community: shared living space • Communicate: share information • Commune: share resources • Communist: share ownership • Communion: share ritual • Commonwealth: shared wealth
The semantic journey from "shared obligation" to "ordinary" reveals social evolution. Originally, "common" meant bound by mutual responsibility—a positive concept of community. Over centuries, as private property grew dominant, "common" shifted toward "not special" or "inferior." This linguistic devaluation mirrors how communal values yielded to individualism.
Words with similar meanings
Words with opposite meanings
•The House of Commons has represented common people since 1295 in England
•"Common law" evolved from customs rather than written statutes
•The Boston Common, America's oldest public park, opened in 1634
•"Common Era" (CE) replaced "Anno Domini" (AD) for inclusive dating
"We found common ground despite our political differences."
"It's common knowledge that exercise improves mental health."
Similar length and difficulty words
Total base points: 12 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 4
Unifying meanings
Common ground
Shared understanding
Common cause
United purpose
Common good
Collective benefit
Common wealth
Shared prosperity
Varied meanings
Common sense
Practical wisdom
Common law
Judge-made rules
Common cold
Frequent illness
Common denominator
Shared factor
SHARE
Divide together
PUBLIC
Open to all
MUTUAL
Reciprocal sharing
USUAL
Typically occurring
NORMAL
Standard state
GENERAL
Widespread
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