Here's why:
* Origin: The word "city" comes from the Old French "cité" and ultimately from the Latin "civitas".
* Meaning: "Civitas" originally referred to the citizenship or state of being a citizen of a particular place. This concept evolved to refer to the place itself where these citizens lived, ultimately becoming the modern word "city."
So, while the stem "city" doesn't have a separate, deeper meaning, its origins highlight the key aspect of cities: they are places of community and shared citizenship.