n.; pl. Cities [ OE. cite, F. cité, fr. L. civitas citizenship, state, city, fr. civis citizen; akin to Goth. heiwa (in heiwafrauja man of the house), AS. hīwan, pl., members of a family, servants, hīred family, G. heirath marriage, prop., providing a house, E. hind a peasant. ] 1. A large town. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. A corporate town; in the United States, a town or collective body of inhabitants, incorporated and governed by a mayor and aldermen or a city council consisting of a board of aldermen and a common council; in Great Britain, a town corporate, which is or has been the seat of a bishop, or the capital of his see. [ 1913 Webster ]
A city is a town incorporated; which is, or has been, the see of a bishop; and though the bishopric has been dissolved, as at Westminster, it yet remaineth a city. Blackstone [ 1913 Webster ]
When Gorges constituted York a city, he of course meant it to be the seat of a bishop, for the word city has no other meaning in English law. Palfrey [ 1913 Webster ]
3. The collective body of citizens, or inhabitants of a city. “What is the city but the people?” Shak.
Syn. -- See Village. [ 1913 Webster ]