Webster's English Dictionary

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citizen

cit.i.zen \'sit-*-z*n\ \-z*-n*s\ \-z*n-le-\ n [ME citizein, fr. AF 
   citezein, alter. of OF citeien, fr. c]ite` city 1: an inhabitant of a city 
   or town; esp : one entitled to the right s and privileges of a freeman 2a: 
   a member of a state  2b: a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance 
   to a government and  is entitled to reciprocal protection from it 3: a 
   civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state egiance 
   to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state. CITIZEN is 
   preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is 
   retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people; 
   SUBJECT implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch; 
   NATIONAL designates one who may claim the protection of a state whether or 
   not he is an actual citizen or subject and applies esp. to one living or 
   traveling outside that state - cit.i.zen.ess n SYN syn CITIZEN, SUBJECT, 
   NATIONAL mean a person owing all