collectivity
(kɒlɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ)
[f. L. collectīv-us collective + -ity: cf. nativity, and see -ity.]
1. Collective state or quality; collectiveness.
| 1862 F. Hall Hindu Philos. Syst. 160 Máyá, illusion, avidyá, nescience, and ajnána, ignorance,—when these two denote collectivity,—are synonyms. 1872 Morley Voltaire (1886) 179 Every unsocial act or sentiment tends to overthrow that collectivity of effort to which we owe all. |
b. concr. The whole taken collectively; the aggregate, sum, mass.
| 1882 Pop. Sc. Monthly XXI. 436 The collectivity of living existence becomes a self-improving machine. |
2. Collective ownership, collectivism in practice.
| 1872 Contemp. Rev. XX. 573, I vote for the collectivity of the soil..and of all the social wealth. |
3. The collective body of people forming a community or state.
| 1881 Standard 21 Mar., The State is the real collectivity—the State is everybody, it is the country. 1884 Rae Contemp. Socialism 140 An omnipotent and centralised political authority—call it the State, call it the collectivity, call it what you like—which should have the final disposal of everything. |