nationality

n. citizenship; quality of being part of a particular nation; patriotism; national ownership (of property)

Nationality is a relationship between a person and their state of origin, culture, association, affiliation and/or loyalty. Nationality affords the state jurisdiction over the person, and affords the person the protection of the state.Traditionally under international law and conflict of laws principles, it is the right of each state to determine who its nationals are. Today the law of nationality is increasingly coming under more international regulation by various conventions on statelessness, as well as some multilateral treaties such as the European Convention on Nationality.
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(n.)
The sum of the qualities which distinguish a nation; national character.
  

(n.)
The state or quality of belonging to or being connected with a nation or government by nativity, character, ownership, allegiance, etc.
  

(n.)
The quality of being national, or strongly attached to one's own nation; patriotism.
  

(n.)
Existence as a distinct or individual nation; national unity and integrity.
  

(n.)
A race or people, as determined by common language and character, and not by political bias or divisions; a nation.
  

See nationals.

The state of a person in relation to the nation in which he was born.

A man retains his nationality of origin during bis minority, but, as in the case of his domicil of origin, he may change his nationality upon attaining full age; he cannot, however, renounce his allegiance without permission of the government.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.