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intercommon

Obsolete
UK/ˌɪntəˈkɒmən/US/ˌɪntərˈkɑːmən/

Archaic / Legal History

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Definition

Meaning

Historically, to share common land rights or to have mutual rights of pasture with others. More broadly, to share or use something in common.

To interact or associate mutually, especially across boundaries or common ground.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

In historical legal context, 'intercommon' referred to a right of pasturage held mutually by inhabitants of neighboring manors or communities. It implied a lack of exclusive ownership.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The term is equally archaic in both varieties, but its historical usage is likely better documented in British legal history due to common law traditions.

Connotations

Historical, feudal, communal. No modern connotations.

Frequency

Extremely rare in modern usage; found only in historical legal texts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
right to intercommonto intercommon with
medium
inhabitants intercommonedvillages that intercommon
weak
landpasture

Grammar

Valency Patterns

to intercommon with [person/group/entity]to intercommon on [land]

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

co-pasture (rare)have common rights

Neutral

sharecommune

Weak

use together

Vocabulary

Antonyms

encloseprivatizeexclude

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “(no modern idioms; historical: 'to hold in intercommonage')”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in historical or legal history discussions of land rights.

Everyday

Not used.

Technical

A term of art in historical English property law.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The manors of Sutton and Cheam were permitted to intercommon on the great meadow.
  • The tenants could legally intercommon with those of the adjacent parish.

American English

  • Historical records show the two towns intercommoned on the unfenced uplands.
  • The early colonists did not have the right to intercommon with native groups.

adverb

British English

  • (none)

American English

  • (none)

adjective

British English

  • (not standard; 'intercommoning' is the participle adjective) The intercommoning rights were abolished by the Enclosure Acts.

American English

  • (not standard)

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • (Not applicable for this level)
B1
  • (Not applicable for this level)
B2
  • The old law allowed the villagers to intercommon on the heathland.
  • A dispute arose over whether they could intercommon with the neighboring estate.
C1
  • The charter explicitly granted the right to intercommon, preventing the lord from enclosing the waste.
  • Intercommoning was a vital economic practice before the widespread privatisation of land.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'INTERact on a COMMON' (common land).

Conceptual Metaphor

SHARING IS HOLDING LAND IN COMMON

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not confuse with 'intersect' (пересекаться). It is closer to 'совместно пользоваться' (пастбищем).

Common Mistakes

  • Using it as a synonym for 'communicate' or 'interconnect' in modern contexts.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The medieval peasants had the right to on the shared downland.
Multiple Choice

In historical context, 'to intercommon' primarily meant:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is an archaic term used almost exclusively in historical texts about English land law.

It is primarily a verb.

The related noun is 'intercommonage' (the state or right of intercommoning).

It largely ended with the Enclosure Acts in Britain, which privatised common lands and extinguished these shared rights.