Given the task definition and input, reply with output. In this task, we ask you to elaborate the sentence without changing its general meaning. You can do so by explaining further the input sentence, using more precise wording, adding qualifiers and auxiliary information etc.

The word republic comes from the Latin language words " res publica " , which means a " public thing " .

The word " republic " comes from the Latin term " res publica " , which literally means " public thing , " " public matter , " or " public affair " and was used to refer to the state as a whole .