n. [ OE. citisein, OF. citeain, F. citoyen, fr. cité city. See City, and cf. Cit. ] 1. One who enjoys the freedom and privileges of a city; a freeman of a city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or one not entitled to its franchises. [ 1913 Webster ] That large body of the working men who were not counted as citizens and had not so much as a vote to serve as an anodyne to their stomachs. G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. An inhabitant of a city; a townsman. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A person, native or naturalized, of either sex, who owes allegiance to a government, and is entitled to reciprocal protection from it. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ This protection is . . . national protection, recognition of the individual, in the face of foreign nations, as a member of the state, and assertion of his security and rights abroad as well as at home. Abbot [ 1913 Webster ] 4. One who is domiciled in a country, and who is a citizen, though neither native nor naturalized, in such a sense that he takes his legal status from such country. [ 1913 Webster ] |