Monopolies

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Monopoly \Mo*nop"o*ly\, n.; pl. {Monopolies}. [L. monopolium,
     Gr. ?, ?; mo`nos alone + ? to sell.]
     1. The exclusive power, or privilege of selling a commodity;
        the exclusive power, right, or privilege of dealing in
        some article, or of trading in some market; sole command
        of the traffic in anything, however obtained; as, the


        proprietor of a patented article is given a monopoly of
        its sale for a limited time; chartered trading companies
        have sometimes had a monopoly of trade with remote
        regions; a combination of traders may get a monopoly of a
        particular product.
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              Raleigh held a monopoly of cards, Essex a monopoly
              of sweet wines.                       --Macaulay.
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     2. Exclusive possession; as, a monopoly of land.
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              If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on 't.
                                                    --Shak.
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     3. The commodity or other material thing to which the
        monopoly relates; as, tobacco is a monopoly in France.
        [Colloq.]
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