Chapter C: G. T (15)

Note: Come may properly be used (instead of go) in speaking of a movement hence, or away, when there is reference to an approach to the person addressed; as, I shall come home next week; he will come to your house to-day. It is used with other verbs almost as an auxiliary, indicative of approach to the action or state expressed by the verb; as, how came you to do it Come is used colloquially, with reference to a definite future time approaching, without an auxilliary; as, it will be two years, come next Christmas; i. e., when Christmas shall come. They were cried In meeting, come next Sunday. Lowell. Come, in the imperative, is used to excite attention, or to invite to motion or joint action; come, let us go. "This is the heir; come, let us kill him." Matt. xxi. 38. When repeated, it sometimes expresses haste, or impatience, and sometimes rebuke. "Come, come, no time for lamentation now." Milton. To come, yet to arrive, future. "In times to come." Dryden. "There's pippins and cheese to come." Shak. -- To come about. (a) To come to pass; to arrive; to happen; to result; as, how did these things come about (b) To change; to come round; as, the ship comes about. "The wind is come about." Shak. On better thoughts, and my urged reasons, They are come about, and won to the true side. B. Jonson. -- To come abroad. (a) To move or be away from one's home or country. "Am come abroad to see the world." Shak. (b) To become public or known. [Obs.] "Neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad." Mark. iv. 22. -- To come across, to meet; to find, esp. by chance or suddenly. "We come across more than one incidental mention of those wars." E. A. Freeman. "Wagner's was certainly one of the strongest and most independent natures I ever came across." H. R. Heweis. -- To come after. (a) To follow. (b) To come to take or to obtain; as, to come after a book. -- To come again, to return. "His spirit came again and he revived." Judges. xv. 19. -- To come and go. (a) To appear and disappear; to change; to alternate. "The color of the king doth come and go." Shak. (b) (Mech.) To play backward and forward. -- To come at. (a) To reach; to arrive within reach of; to gain; as, to come at a true knowledge of ourselves. (b) To come toward; to attack; as, he came at me with fury. -- To come away, to part or depart. -- To come between, to interverne; to separate; hence, to cause estrangement. -- To come by. (a) To obtain, gain, acquire. "Examine how you came by all your state." Dryden. (b) To pass near or by way of. -- To come down. (a) To descend. (b) To be humbled. -- To come down upon, to call to account, to reprimand. [Colloq.] Dickens. -- To come home. (a) To retuen to one's house or family. (b) To come close; to press closely; to touch the feelings, interest, or reason. (b) (Naut.) To be loosened from the ground; -- said of an anchor. -- To come in. (a) To enter, as a town, house, etc. "The thief cometh in." Hos. vii. 1. (b) To arrive; as, when my ship comes in. (c) To assume official station or duties; as, when Lincoln came in. (d) To comply; to yield; to surrender. "We need not fear his coming in" Massinger. (e) To be brought into use. "Silken garments did not come in till late." Arbuthnot. (f) To be added or inserted; to be or become a part of. (g) To accrue as gain from any business or investment. (h) To mature and yield a harvest; as, the crops come in well. (i) To have sexual intercourse; -- with to or unto. Gen. xxxviii. 16. (j) To have young; to bring forth; as, the cow will come in next May. [U. S.] -- To come in for, to claim or receive. "The rest came in for subsidies." Swift. -- To come into, to join with; to take part in; to agree to; to comply with; as, to come into a party or scheme. -- To come it ever, to hoodwink; to get the advantage of. [Colloq.] -- To come near or nigh, to approach in place or quality to be equal to. "Nothing ancient or modern seems to come near it." Sir W. Temple. -- To come of. (a) To descend or spring from. "Of Priam's royal race my mother came." Dryden. (b) To result or follow from. "This comes of judging by the eye." L'Estrange. -- To come off. (a) To depart or pass off from. (b) To get free; to get away; to escape. (c) To be carried through; to pass off; as, it came off well. (d) To acquit one's self; to issue from (a contest, etc.); as, he came off with honor; hence, substantively, a come off, an escape; an excuse; an evasion. [Colloq.] (e) To pay over; to give. [Obs.] (f) To take place; to happen; as, when does the race come off (g) To be or become after some delay; as, the weather came off very fine. (h) To slip off or be taken off, as a garment; to separate. (i) To hurry away; to get through. Chaucer. -- To come off by, to suffer. [Obs.] "To come off by the worst." Calamy. -- To come off from, to leave. "To come off from these grave disquisitions." Felton. -- To come on. (a) To advance; to make progress; to thrive. (b) To move forward; to approach; to supervene. -- To come out. (a) To pass out or depart, as from a country, room, company, etc. "They shall come out with great substance." Gen. xv. 14. (b) To become public; to appear; to be published. "It is indeed come out at last." Bp. Stillingfleet. (c) To end; to result; to turn out; as, how will this affair come out he has come out well at last. (d) To be introduced into society; as, she came out two seasons ago. (e) To appear; to show itself; as, the sun came out. (f) To take sides; to take a stand; as, he came out against the tariff.(g) To publicly admit oneself to be homosexual. -- To come out with, to give publicity to; to disclose. -- To come over. (a) To pass from one side or place to another. "Perpetually teasing their friends to come over to them." Addison. (b) To rise and pass over, in distillation. -- To come over to, to join. -- To come round. (a) To recur in regular course. (b) To recover. [Colloq.] (c) To change, as the wind. (d) To relent. J. H. Newman. (e) To circumvent; to wheedle. [Colloq.] -- To come short, to be deficient; to fail of attaining. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. iii. 23. -- To come to. (a) To consent or yield. Swift. (b) (Naut.) (with the accent on to) To luff; to brin the ship's head nearer the wind; to anchor. (c) (with the accent on to) To recover, as from a swoon. (d) To arrive at; to reach. (e) To amount to; as, the taxes come to a large sum. (f) To fall to; to be received by, as an inheritance. Shak. -- To come to blows. See under Blow. -- To come to grief. See under Grief. -- To come to a head. (a) To suppurate, as a boil. (b) To mature; to culminate; as a plot. -- To come to one's self, to recover one's senses. -- To come to pass, to happen; to fall out. -- To come to the scratch. (a) (Prize Fighting) To step up to the scratch or mark made in the ring to be toed by the combatants in beginning a contest; hence: (b) To meet an antagonist or a difficulty bravely. [Colloq.] -- To come to time. (a) (Prize Fighting) To come forward in order to resume the contest when the interval allowed for rest is over and "time" is called; hence: (b) To keep an appointment; to meet expectations. [Colloq.] -- To come together. (a) To meet for business, worship, etc.; to assemble. Acts i. 6. (b) To live together as man and wife. Matt. i. 18. -- To come true, to happen as predicated or expected. -- To come under, to belong to, as an individual to a class. -- To come up (a) to ascend; to rise. (b) To be brought up; to arise, as a question. (c) To spring; to shoot or rise above the earth, as a plant. (d) To come into use, as a fashion. -- To come up the capstan (Naut.), to turn it the contrary way, so as to slacken the rope about it. -- To come up the tackle fall (Naut.), to slacken the tackle gently. Totten. -- To come up to, to rise to; to equal. -- To come up with, to overtake or reach by pursuit. -- To come upon. (a) To befall. (b) To attack or invade. (c) To have a claim upon; to become dependent upon for support; as, to come upon the town. (d) To light or chance upon; to find; as, to come upon hid treasure.

COME Come, v. t.

Defn: To carry through; to succeed in; as, you can't come any tricks here. [Slang] To come it, to succeed in a trick of any sort. [Slang]

COME Come, n.

Defn: Coming. Chaucer.

COME-ALONG Come"-a*long`, n.

Defn: A gripping device, as for stretching wire, etc., consisting of two jaws so attached to a ring that they are closed by pulling on the ring.

CO-MEDDLE Co-med"dle, v. t.

Defn: To mix; to mingle, to temper. [Obs.] Shak.

COMEDIAN Co*me"di*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. comédien.]

1. An actor or player in comedy. "The famous comedian, Roscius." Middleton.

2. A writer of comedy. Milton.

COMEDIENNE Co*mé`di*enne", n. Etym: [F., fem. of com.]

Defn: A women who plays in comedy.

COMEDIETTA Co*me`di*et"ta, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: A dramatic sketch; a brief comedy.

COMEDO Com"e*do, n.; pl. Comedones. Etym: [L., a glutton. See Comestible.] (Med.)

Defn: A small nodule or cystic tumor, common on the nose, etc., which on pressure allows the escape of a yellow wormlike mass of retained oily secretion, with a black head (dirt).

COMEDOWN Come"down`, n.

Defn: A downfall; an humillation. [Colloq.]

COMEDY Com"e*dy, n.; pl. Comedies. Etym: [F. comédie, L. comoedia, fr. Gr. home) + Home, and Ode.]

Defn: A dramatic composition, or representation of a bright and amusing character, based upon the foibles of individuals, the manners of society, or the ludicrous events or accidents of life; a play in which mirth predominates and the termination of the plot is happy; -- opposed to tragedy. With all the vivacity if comedy. Macaulay. Are come to play a pleasant comedy. Shak.

COMELILY Come"li*ly, adv.

Defn: In a suitable or becoming manner. [R.] Sherwood.

COMELINESS Come"li*ness, n. Etym: [See Comely.]

Defn: The quality or state of being comely. Comeliness is a disposing fair Of things and actions in fit time and place. Sir J. Davies. Strength, comeliness of shape, or amplest merit. Milton. Comeliness signifies something less forcible than beauty, less elegant than grace, and less light than prettiness. Johnson.

COMELY Come"ly, a. [Compar. Comelier; superl. Comeliest.] Etym: [OE. comeliche, AS. cymlic; cyme suitable (fr. cuman to come, become) + lic like.]

1. Pleasing or agreeable to the sight; well-proportioned; good- looking; handsome. He that is comely when old and decrepit, surely was very beautiful when he was young. South. Not once perceive their foul disfigurement But boast themselves more comely than before. Milton.

2. Suitable or becoming; proper; agreeable. This is a happier and more comely time Than when these fellows ran about the streets, Crying confusion. Shak. It is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. Ps. cxlvii. 1.

COMELY Come"ly, adv.

Defn: In a becoming manner. Ascham.

COME-OUTER Come-out"er, n.

Defn: One who comes out or withdraws from a religious or other organization; a radical reformer. [Colloq. U. S.]

COMER Com"er, n.

Defn: One who comes, or who has come; one who has arrived, and is present. All comers, all who come, or offer, to take part in a matter, especially in a contest or controversy. "To prove it against all comers." Bp. Stillingfleet.

COMES Co"mes, n. Etym: [L., a companion.] (Mus.)

Defn: The answer to the theme (dux) in a fugue.

COMESSATION Com`es*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. comissatio, comessatio.]

Defn: A reveling; a rioting. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

COMESTIBLE Co*mes"ti*ble, a. Etym: [F. comestible, fr. L. comesus, comestus, p. p. pf comedere to eat; com- + edere to eat.]

Defn: Suitable to be eaten; eatable; esculent. Some herbs are most comestible. Sir T. Elyot.

COMESTIBLE Co*mes"ti*ble, n.

Defn: Something suitable to be eaten; -- commonly in the plural. Thackeray.

COMET Com"et, n. Etym: [L. cometes, cometa, from Gr. coma: cf. F. comète.] (Astron.)

Defn: A member of the solar system which usually moves in an elongated orbit, approaching very near to the sun in its perihelion, and receding to a very great distance from it at its aphelion. A comet commonly consists of three parts: the nucleus, the envelope, or coma, and the tail; but one or more of these parts is frequently wanting. See Illustration in Appendix.

COMETARIUM Com`e*ta"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Astron.)

Defn: An instrument, intended to represent the revolution of a comet round the sun. Hutton.

COMETARY Com"et*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cométaire.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a comet. Cheyne.

COMET-FINDER; COMET-SEEKER Com"et-find`er, or Com"et-seek`er, n. (Astron.)

Defn: A telescope of low power, having a large field of view, used for finding comets.

COMETHER Co*meth"er, n. [Prob. dial. pron. of come hither, used in calling cows, etc.] [Dial. or Colloq., Brit.]

1.

Defn: Matter; affair.

2. Friendly communication or association.

To put the, or one's, comether on, to exercise persuasion upon; to get under one's influence; to beguile; to wheedle.

How does ut come about, sorr, that whin a man has put the comether on wan woman he's sure bound to put ut on another Kipling.

COMETIC Co*met"ic, a.

Defn: Relating to a comet.

COMETOGRAPHER Com`et*og"ra*pher, n.

Defn: One who describes or writes about comets.

COMETOGRAPHY Com`et*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Comet + -graphy: cf. F. cométographie.]

Defn: A description of, or a treatise concerning, comets.

COMETOLOGY Com`et*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Comet + -logy.]

Defn: The department of astronomy relating to comets.

COMFIT Com"fit, n. Etym: [F. confit, prop. a p. p., fr. confire to preserve, pickle, fr. L. conficere to prepare; con- + facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Confect.]

Defn: A dry sweetmeat; any kind of fruit, root, or seed preserved with sugar and dried; a confection.

COMFIT Com"fit, v. t.

Defn: To preserve dry with sugar. The fruit which does so quickly waste, . . . Thou comfitest in sweets to make it last. Cowley.

COMFITURE Com"fi*ture, n. Etym: [F. confiture; cf. LL. confecturae sweetmeats, confectura a preparing. See Comfit, and cf. Confiture.]

Defn: See Comfit, n.

COMFORT Com"fort, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comforting.] Etym: [F. conforter, fr. L. confortare to strengthen much; con- + fortis strong. See Fort.]

1. To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate. [Obs.] Wyclif. God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort and confirm the same. Hooker.

2. To assist or help; to aid. [Obs.] I . . . can not help the noble chevalier: God comfort him in this necessity! Shak.

3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer, Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. Bacon. That we may be adle to comfort them that are in any affliction. 2 Cor. i. 4. (Rev. Ver. ). A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command. Wordsworth.

Syn. -- To cheer; solace; console; revive; encourage; enliven; invigorate; inspirit, gladden; recreate; exhilarate; refresh; animate; confirm; strengthen. -- To Comfort, Console, Solace. These verbs all suppose some antecedent state of suffering or sorrow. Console in confined to the act giving sympathetic relief to the mind under affliction or sorrow, and points to some definite source of that relief; as, the presence of his friend consoled him; he was much consoled by this intelligence. The act of consoling commonly implies the inculcation of resignation. Comfort points to relief afforded by the communication of positive pleasure, hope, and strength, as well as by the diminution of pain; as, "They brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted." Acts xx. 12.

Note: Solace is from L. solacium, which means according to Dumesnil, consolation inwardly felt or applied to the case of the sufferer. Hence, the verb to solace denotes the using of things for the purpose of affording relief under sorrow or suffering; as, to solace one's self with reflections, with books, or with active employments.

COMFORT Com"fort, n. Etym: [OF. confort, fr. conforter.]

1. Assistance; relief; support. [Obs. except in the phrase "aid and comfort." See 5 below.] Shak.

2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that which affords consolation. In comfort of her mother's fears. Shak. Cheer thy spirit with this comfort. Shak. Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not. Longfellow.

3. A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom from pain, want, or anxiety; also, whatever contributes to such a condition. I had much joy and comfort in thy love. Phil. 7 (Rev. Ver. ). He had the means of living in comfort. Macaulay.

4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [U. S.]

5. (Law)

Defn: Unlawful support, countenance, or encouragement; as, to give aid and comfort to the enemy.

Syn. -- Comfort, Consolation. Comfort has two meanings:

1. Strength and relief received under affliction;

2. Positive enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together with the sources thereof; as, the comfort of love; surrounded with comforts; but it is with the former only that the word consolation is brought into comparison. As thus compared, consolation points to some specific source of relief for the afflicted mind; as, the consolations of religion. Comfort supposes the relief to be afforded by imparting positive enjoyment, as well as a diminution of pain. "Consolation, or comfort, signifies some alleviation to that pain to which it is not in our power to afford the proper and adequate remedy; they imply rather an augmentation of the power of bearing, than a diminution of the burden." Johnson.

COMFORTABLE Com"fort*a*ble, a. Etym: [OF. confortable.]

1. Strong; vigorous; valiant. [Obs.] Wyclif. Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my sake be comfortable; hold death a while at the arm's end. Shak.

2. Serviceable; helpful. [Obs.] Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her. Shak.

3. Affording or imparting comfort or consolation; able to comfort; cheering; as, a comfortable hope. "Kind words and comfortable." Cowper. A comfortable provision made for their subsistence. Dryden.

4. In a condition of comfort; having comforts; not suffering or anxious; hence, contented; cheerful; as, to lead a comfortable life. My lord leans wondrously to discontent; His comfortable temper has forsook him: He is much out of health. Shak.

5. Free, or comparatively free, from pain or distress; -- used of a sick person. [U. S.]

COMFORTABLE Com"fort*a*ble, n.

Defn: A stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a comfort. [U. S.]

COMFORTABLENESS Com"fort*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: State of being comfortable or comforting manner. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl. 2.

COMFORTABLY Com"fort*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a comfortable or comforting manner.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl. 2.

COMFORTER Com"fort*er, n.

1. One who administers comfort or consolation. Let no comforter delight mine ear But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Shak.

2. (Script.)

Defn: The Holy Spirit, -- reffering to his office of comforting believers. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. John xiv. 26.

3. A knit woolen tippet, long and narrow. [U. S.] The American schoolboy takes off his comforter and unbuttons his jacket before going in for a snowball fight. Pop. Sci. Monthly.

4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [U. S.] Job's comforter, a boil. [Colloq.]

COMFORTLESS Com"fort*less, a.

Defn: Without comfort or comforts; in want or distress; cheerless. Comfortless through turanny or might. Spenser.

Syn. -- Forlorn; desolate; cheerless; inconsolable; disconsolate; wretched; miserable. -- Com"fort*less*ly, adv. -- Com"fort*less*ness, n. When all is coldly, comfortlessly costly. Milton.

COMFORTMENT Com"fort*ment, n.

Defn: Act or process of administering comfort. [Obs.] The gentle comfortment and entertainment of the said embassador. Hakluyt.

COMFORTRESS Com"fort*ress, n.

Defn: A woman who comforts. To be your comfortress, and to preserve you. B. Jonson.

COMFREY Com"frey, n. Etym: [Prob. from F. conferve, L. conferva, fr. confervere to boil together, in medical language, to heal, grow together. So called on account of its healing power, for which reason it was also called consolida.] (Bot.)

Defn: A rough, hairy, perennial plant of several species, of the genus Symphytum.

Note: A decoction of the mucilaginous root of the "common comfrey" (S. officinale) is used in cough mixtures, etc.; and the gigantic "prickly comfrey" (S. asperrimum) is somewhat cultivated as a forage plant.

COMIC Com"ic, a. Etym: [L. comicus pertaining to comedy, Gr. comique. See Comedy.]

1. Relating to comedy, as distinct from tragedy. I can not for the stage a drama lay, Tragic or comic, but thou writ'st the play. B. Jonson.

2. Causing mirth; ludicrous. "Comic shows." Shak.

COMIC Com"ic, n.

Defn: A comedian. [Obs.] Steele.

COMICAL Com"ic*al, a.

1. Relating to comedy. They deny it to be tragical because its catastrphe is a wedding, which hath ever been accounted comical. Gay.

2. Exciting mirth; droll; laughable; as, a comical story. "Comical adventures." Dryden.

Syn. -- Humorous; laughable; funny. See Droll. -- Com"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Com"ic*al"ness, n.

COMICALITY Com`i*cal"i*ty, n.; pl. Comicalities.

Defn: The quality of being comical; something comical.

COMICRY Com"ic*ry, n.

Defn: The power of exciting mirth; comicalness. [R.] H. Giles.

COMING Com"ing, a.

1. Approaching; of the future, especially the near future; the next; as, the coming week or year; the coming exhibition. Welcome the coming, speed the parting, guest. Pope. Your coming days and years. Byron.

2. Ready to come; complaisant; fond. [Obs.] Pope.

COMING Com"ing, n.

1. Approach; advent; manifestation; as, the coming of the train.

2. Specifically: The Second Advent of Christ. Coming in. (a) Entrance; entrance way; manner of entering; beginning. "The goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof." Ezek. xliii. 11 (b) Income or revenue. "What are thy comings in" Shak.

COMITIA Co*mi"ti*a, n., pl. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A public assembly of the Roman people for electing officers or passing laws.

Note: There were three kinds of comitia: comitia curiata, or assembly of the patricians, who voted in curiæ; comitia centuriata, or assembly of the whole Roman people, who voted by centuries; and comitia tributa, or assembly of the plebeians according to their division into tribes.

COMITIAL Co*mi"tial, a. Etym: [L. comitialis.]

Defn: Relating to the comitia, or popular assembles of the Romans for electing officers and passing laws. Middleton.

COMITIVA Co`mi*ti"va, n. [It.]

Defn: A body of followers; -- applied to the lawless or brigand bands in Italy and Sicily.

COMITY Com"i*ty, n.; pl. Comities. Etym: [L. comitas, fr. comis courteous, kind.]

Defn: Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy between equals; friendly equals; friendly civility; as, comity of manners; the comity of States. Comity of nations (International Law), the courtesy by which nations recognize within their own territory, or in their courts, the peculiar institutions of another nation or the rights and privileges acquired by its citizens in their own land. By some authorities private international law rests on this comity, but the better opinion is that it is part of the common law of the land, and hence is obligatory as law.

Syn. -- Civility; good breeding; courtesy; good will.

COMMA Com"ma, n. Etym: [L. comma part of a sentence, comma, Gr. Capon.]

1. A character or point [,] marking the smallest divisions of a sentence, written or printed.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A small interval (the difference beyween a major and minor half step), seldom used except by tuners. Comma bacillus (Physiol.), a variety of bacillus shaped like a comma, found in the intestines of patients suffering from cholera. It is considered by some as having a special relation to the disease; -- called also cholera bacillus. -- Comma butterfly (Zoöl.), an American butterfly (Grapta comma), having a white comma-shaped marking on the under side of the wings.

COMMAND Com*mand" (; 61), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Commanding.] Etym: [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF. comander, F. commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to, to command. Cf. Commend, Mandate.]

1. To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge. We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends. Bacon. Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me. Shak.

2. To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead. Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries. Macaulay. Such aid as I can spare you shall command. Shak.

3. To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook. Bridges commanded by a fortified house. Motley. Up to the eastern tower, Whose height commands as subject all the vale. Shak. One side commands a view of the finest garden. Addison.

4. To have power or influence of the nature of authority over; to obtain as if by ordering; to reeceive as a due; to challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people; the best goods command the best price. 'Tis not in mortals to command success. Addison.

5. To direct to come; to bestow. [Obs.] I will command my blessing upon you. Lev. xxv. 21.

Syn. -- To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule; overlook.

COMMAND Com*mand", v. i.

1. To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to sway; to influence; to give an order or orders. And reigned, commanding in his monarchy. Shak. For the king had so commanded concerning [Haman]. Esth. iii. 2.

2. To have a view, as from a superior position. Far and wide his eye commands. Milton.

COMMAND Com*mand", n.

1. An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an injunction. A waiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose. Milton.

2. The possession or exercise of authority. Command and force may often create, but can never cure, an aversion. Locke.

3. Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the forces under his command.

4. Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of position; scope of vision; survey. Te steepy stand Which overlooks the vale with wide command. Dryden.

5. Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has command of the bridge. He assumed an absolute command over his readers. Druden.

6. A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post, or the whole territory under the authority or control of a particular officer.

Word of command (Mil.), a word or phrase of definite and established meaning, used in directing the movements of soldiers; as, aim; fire; shoulder arms, etc.

Syn. -- Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion; sovereignty; mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest. See Direction.

COMMANDABLE Com*mand"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being commanded.

COMMANDANT Com`man*dant", n. Etym: [F., orig. p. pr. of commander.]

Defn: A commander; the commanding officer of a place, or of a body of men; as, the commandant of a navy-yard.

COMMANDATORY Com*mand"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Mandatory; as, commandatory authority. [Obs.]

COMMANDEER Com`man*deer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commandeered; p. pr. & vb. n. Commandeering.] [D. kommandeeren to command, in South Africa to commandeer, fr. F. commander to command. See Command.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: To compel to perform military service; to seize for military purposes; -- orig. used of the Boers.

2. To take arbitrary or forcible possession of. [Colloq.]

COMMANDER Com*mand"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commandeur. Cf. Commodore, Commender.]

1. A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it. A leader and commander to the people. Is. lv. 4.

2. (Navy)

Defn: An officer who ranks next below a captain, -- ranking with a lieutenant colonel in the army.

3. The chief officer of a commandery.

4. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc. Commander in chief, the military title of the officer who has supreme command of the land or naval forces or the united forces of a nation or state; a generalissimo. The President is commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States.

Syn. -- See Chief.

COMMANDERSHIP Com*mand"er*ship, n.

Defn: The office of a commander.

COMMANDERY Com*mand"er*y, n.; pl. Commanderies. Etym: [F. commanderie.]

1. The office or rank of a commander. [Obs.]

2. A district or a manor with lands and tenements appertaining thereto, under the control of a member of an order of knights who was called a commander; -- called also a preceptory.

3. An assembly or lodge of Knights Templars (so called) among the Freemasons. [U. S.]

4. A district under the administration of a military commander or governor. [R.] Brougham.

COMMANDING Com*mand"ing, a.

1. Exercising authority; actually in command; as, a commanding officer.

2. Fitted to impress or control; as, a commanding look or presence.

3. Exalted; overlooking; having superior strategic advantages; as, a commanding position.

Syn. -- Authoritative; imperative; imperious.

COMMANDINGLY Com*mand"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a commanding manner.

COMMANDMENT Com*mand"ment, n. Etym: [OF. commandement, F. commandement.]

1. An order or injunction given by authority; a command; a charge; a precept; a mandate. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another. John xiii. 34.

2. (Script.)

Defn: One of the ten laws or precepts given by God to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

3. The act of commanding; exercise of authority. And therefore put I on the countenance Of stern commandment. Shak.

4. (Law)

Defn: The offense of commanding or inducing another to violate the law. The Commandments, The Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, or summary of God's commands, given to Moses at Mount Sinai. (Ex. xx.)

COMMANDO Com*man"do, n. [D. See Command, v. t.]

Defn: In South Africa, a military body or command; also, sometimes, an expedition or raid; as, a commando of a hundred Boers.

The war bands, called commandos, have played a great part in the . . . military history of the country. James Bryce.

COMMANDRESS Com*mand"ress, n.

Defn: A woman invested with authority to command. Hooker.

COMMANDRY Com*mand"ry, n.

Defn: See Commandery.

COMMARK Com"mark`, n. Etym: [Of. comarque, or LL. commarca, commarcha; com- + marcha, boundary. See March a confine.]

Defn: The frontier of a country; confines. [Obs.] Shelton.

COMMATERIAL Com`ma*te"ri*al, a.

Defn: Consisting of the same material. [Obs.] Bacon.

COMMATIC Com*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. commaticus, Gr. Comma.]

Defn: Having short clauses or sentences; brief; concise.

COMMATISM Com"ma*tism, n. Etym: [See Commatic.]

Defn: Conciseness in writing. Bp. Horsley.

COMMEASURABLE Com*meas"ur*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. Commensurable.]

Defn: Having the same measure; commensurate; proportional. She being now removed by death, a commeasurable grief took as full possession of him as joy had one. I. Walton.

COMMEASURE Com*meas"ure, v. t.

Defn: To be commensurate with; to equal. Tennyson.

COMMEMORABLE Com*mem"o*ra"ble, a. Etym: [L. commemorabilis.]

Defn: Worthy to be commemorated.

COMMEMORATE Com*mem"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commemorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commemorating.] Etym: [L. commemoratus, p. p. of commemorare to remember; com- + memorare to mention, fr. memor mindful. See Memory.]

Defn: To call to remembrance by a special act or observance; to celebrate with honor and solemnity; to honor, as a person or event, by some act of respect of affection, intended to preserve the remembrance of the person or event; as, to commemorate the sufferings and dying love of our Savior by the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; to commemorate the Declaration of Independence by the observance of the Fourth of July. We are called upon to commemorate a revolution. Atterbury.

Syn. -- See Celebrate.

COMMEMORATION Com*mem`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. commemoratio.]

1. The act of commemorating; an observance or celebration designed to honor the memory of some person or event. This sacrament was designed to be a standing commemoration of the death and passion of our Lord. Abp. Tillotson. The commonwealth which . . . chooses the most flagrant act of murderous regicide treason for a feast of eternal commemoration. Burke.

2. Whatever serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial. Commemoration day, at the University of Oxford, Eng., an annual observance or ceremony in honor of the benefactors of the University, at which time honorary degrees are conferred.

COMMEMORATIVE Com*mem"o*ra*tive, a.

Defn: Tending or intended to commemorate. "A sacrifice commemorative of Christ's offering up his body for us." Hammond. An inscription commemorative of his victory. Sir G. C. Lewis.

COMMEMORATOR Com*mem"o*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who commemorates.

COMMEMORATORY Com*mem"o*ra*to*ry, a.

Defn: Serving to commemorate; commomerative. Bp. Hooper.

COMMENCE Com*mence", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Commencing.] Etym: [F. commencer, OF. commencier, fr. L. com- + initiare to begin. See Initiate.]

1. To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin. Here the anthem doth commence. Shak. His heaven commences ere the world be past. Goldsmith.

2. To begin to be, or to act as. [Archaic] We commence judges ourselves. Coleridge.

3. To take a degree at a university. [Eng.] I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age. Fuller.

COMMENCE Com*mence", v. t.

Defn: To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of. Many a wooer doth commence his suit. Shak.

Note: It is the practice of good writers to use the verbal noun (instead of the infinitive with to) after commence; as, he commenced studying, not he commenced to study.

COMMENCEMENT Com*mence"ment, n. Etym: [F. comencement.]

1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginnig; start. The time of Henry VII . . . nearly coincides with the commencement of what is termed "modern history."

2. The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities upon students and others.

COMMEND Com*mend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commended; p. pr. & vb. n. Commending.] Etym: [L. commendare; com- + mandare to intrust to one's charge, enjoin, command. Cf. Command, Mandate.]

1. To commit, intrust, or give in charge for care or preservation. His eye commends the leading to his hand. Shak. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke xxiii. 46.

2. To recommend as worthy of confidence or regard; to present as worthy of notice or favorable attention. Among the objects of knowlwdge, two especially commend themselves to our contemplation. Sir M. Hale. I commend unto you Phebe our sister. Rom. xvi. 1.

3. To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or an act. Historians commend Alexander for weeping when he read the actions of Achilles. Dryden.

4. To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and good will. [Archaic] Commend me to my brother. Shak.

COMMEND Com*mend", n.

1. Commendation; praise. [Obs.] Speak in his just commend. Shak.

2. pl.

Defn: Compliments; greetings. [Obs.] Hearty commends and much endeared love to you. Howell.

COMMENDABLE Com*mend"a*ble, a.

Note: (Formerly accented on the first syllable.) Etym: [L. commendabilis.]

Defn: Worthy of being commended or praised; laudable; praiseworthy. Order and decent ceremonies in the church are not only comely but commendable. Bacon. -- Com*mend"a*ble*ness, n. -- Com*mend"a*bly, adv.

COMMENDAM Com*men"dam, n. Etym: [LL. dare in commendam to give into trust.] (Eng. Eccl. Law)

Defn: A vacant living or benefice commended to a cleric (usually a bishop) who enjoyed the revenue until a pastor was provided. A living so held was said to be held in commendam. The practice was abolished by law in 1836. There was [formerly] some sense for commendams. Selden. Partnership in commendam. See under Partnership.

COMMENDATARY Com*mend"a*ta*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commendataire, LL. commendatarius.]

Defn: One who holds a living in commendam.

COMMENDATION Com`men*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. commendatio.]

1. The act of commending; praise; favorable representation in words; recommendation. Need we . . . epistles of commendatiom 2 Cor. iii. 1. By the commendation of the great officers. Bacon.

2. That which is the ground of approbation or praise. Good nature is the most godlike commendation of a man. Dryden.

3. pl.

Defn: A message of affection or respect; compliments; greeting. [Obs.] Hark you, Margaret; No princely commendations to my king Shak.

COMMENDATOR Com*mend"a*tor ( or ), n. Etym: [LL.]

Defn: One who holds a benefice in commendam; a commendatary. Chalmers.

COMMENDATORY Com*mend"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. commendatorius.]

1. Serving to commend; containing praise or commendation; commending; praising. "Commendatory verses." Pope.

2. Holding a benefice in commendam; as, a commendatory bishop. Burke. Commendatory prayer (Book of Common Prayer), a prayer read over the dying. "The commendatory prayer was said for him, and, as it ended, he [William III.] died." Bp. Burnet.

COMMENDATORY Com*mend"a*to*ry, n.

Defn: A commendation; eulogy. [R.] "Commendatories to our affection." Sharp.

COMMENDER Com*mend"er, n.

Defn: One who commends or praises.

COMMENSAL Com*men"sal, n. Etym: [LL. commensalis; L. com- + mensa table: cf. F. commensal. Cf. Mensal.]

1. One who eats at the same table. [Obs.]

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal, not truly parasitic, which lives in with, or on, another, partaking usually of the same food. Both species may be benefited by the association.

COMMENSAL Com*men"sal, a.

Defn: Having the character of a commensal.

COMMENSALISM Com*men"sal*ism, n.

Defn: The act of eating together; table fellowship.

COMMENSALITY Com`men*sal"i*ty, n.

Defn: Fellowship at table; the act or practice of eating at the same table. [Obs.] "Promiscuous commensality." Sir T. Browne.

COMMENSATION Com`men*sa"tion, n.

Defn: Commensality. [Obs.] Daniel . . . declined pagan commensation. Sir T. Browne.

COMMENSURABILITY Com*men`su*ra*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commensurabilite.]

Defn: The quality of being commersurable. Sir T. Browne.

COMMENSURABLE Com*men"su*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. commensurabilis; pref. com- + mensurable. See Commensurate, and cf. Commeasurable.]

Defn: Having a common measure; capable of being exactly measured by the same number, quantity, or measure. -- Com*men"su*ra*ble*ness, n. Commensurable numbers or quantities (Math.), those that can be exactly expressed by some common unit; thus a foot and yard are commensurable, since both can be expressed in terms of an inch, one being 12 inches, the other 36 inches. -- Numbers, or Quantities, commensurable in power, those whose squares are commensurable.

COMMENSURABLY Com*men"su*ra*bly, adv.

Defn: In a commensurable manner; so as to be commensurable.

COMMENSURATE Com*men"su*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commensurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commensurating.] Etym: [Pref. com- + mensurate.]

1. To reduce to a common measure. Sir T. Browne.

2. To proportionate; to adjust. T. Puller

COMMENSURATE Com*men"su*rate, a.

1. Having a common measure; commensurable; reducible to a common measure; as, commensurate quantities.

2. Equal in measure or extent; proportionate. Those who are persuaded that they shall continue forever, can not choose but aspire after a hapiness commensurate to their duration. Tillotson.

COMMENSURATELY Com*men"su*rate*ly, adv.

1. In a commensurate manner; so as to be equal or proportionate; adequately.

2. With equal measure or extent. Goodwin.

COMMENSURATENESS Com*men"su*rate*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being commensurate. Foster.

COMMENSURATION Com*men`su*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commensuration.]

Defn: The act of commensurating; the state of being commensurate. All fitness lies in a particular commensuration, or proportion of one thing to another. South.

COMMENT Com"ment, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commented; p. pr. & vb. n. Commenting.] Etym: [F. commenter, L. commentary to meditate upon, explain, v. intens, of comminisci, commentus, to reflect upon, invent; com- + the root of meminisse to remember, mens mind. See Mind.]

Defn: To make remarks, observations, or criticism; especially, to write notes on the works of an author, with a view to illustrate his meaning, or to explain particular passages; to write annotations; -- often followed by on or upon. A physician to comment on your malady. Shak. Critics . . . proceed to comment on him. Dryden. I must translate and comment. Pope.

COMMENT Com"ment, v. t.

Defn: To comment on. [Archaic.] Fuller.

COMMENT Com"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. comment.]

1. A remark, observation, or criticism; gossip; discourse; talk. Their lavish comment when her name was named. Tennyson.

2. A note or observation intended to explain, illustrate, or criticise the meaning of a writing, book, etc.; explanation; annotation; exposition. All the volumes of philosophy, With all their comments. Prior.

COMMENTARY Com"men*ta*ry, n.; pl. Commentaries. Etym: [L. commentarius, commentarium, note book, commentary: cf. F. commentaire. See Comment, v. i.]

1. A series of comments or annotations; esp., a book of explanations or expositions on the whole or a part of the Scriptures or of some other work. This letter . . . was published by him with a severe commentary. Hallam.

2. A brief account of transactions or events written hastily, as if for a memorandum; -- usually in the plural; as, Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War.

COMMENTATE Com"men*tate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. commentatus, p. p. of commentari to meditate.]

Defn: To write comments or notes upon; to make comments. [R.] Commentate upon it, and return it enriched. Lamb.

COMMENTATION Com`men*ta"tion, n.

1. The act or process of commenting or criticising; exposition. [R.] The spirit of commentation. Whewell.

2. The result of the labors of a commentator.

COMMENTATOR Com"men*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L. commentator: cf. F. commentateur.]

Defn: One who writes a commentary or comments; an expositor; an annotator. The commentator's professed object is to explain, to enforce, to illustrate doctrines claimed as true. Whewell.

COMMENTATORIAL Com`men*ta*to"ri*al ( or , a.

Defn: Pertaining to the making of commentaries. Whewell.

COMMENTATORSHIP Com"men*ta`tor*ship, n.

Defn: The office or occupation of a commentator.

COMMENTER Com"ment`er, n.

Defn: One who makes or writes comments; a commentator; an annotator.

COMMENTITIOUS Com`men*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. commentitius.]

Defn: Fictitious or imaginary; unreal; as, a commentitious system of religion. [Obs.] Warburton.

COMMERCE Com"merce, n.

Note: (Formerly accented on the second syllable.) Etym: [F. commerce, L. commercium; com- + merx, mercis, merchadise. See Merchant.]

1. The exchange or buying and selling of commodities; esp. the exchange of merchandise, on a large scale, between different places or communities; extended trade or traffic. The public becomes powerful in proportion to the opulence and extensive commerce of private men. Hume.

2. Social intercourse; the dealings of one person or class in society with another; familiarity. Fifteen years of thought, observation, and commerce with the world had made him [Bunyan] wiser. Macaulay.

3. Sexual intercourse. W. Montagu.

4. A round game at cards, in which the cards are subject to exchange, barter, or trade. Hoyle. Chamber of commerce. See Chamber.

Syn. -- Trade; traffic; dealings; intercourse; interchange; communion; communication.

COMMERCE Com*merce" ( or , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commerced; p. pr. & vb. n. Commercing.] Etym: [Cf. F. commercer, fr. LL. commerciare.]

1. To carry on trade; to traffic. [Obs.] Beware you commerce not with bankrupts. B. Jonson.

2. To hold intercourse; to commune. Milton. Commercing with himself. Tennyson. Musicians . . . taught the people in angelic harmonies to commerce with heaven. Prof. Wilson.

COMMERCE DESTROYER Com"merce de*stroy"er. (Nav.)

Defn: A very fast, unarmored, lightly armed vessel designed to capture or destroy merchant vessels of an enemy. Not being intended to fight, they may be improvised from fast passenger steamers.

COMMERCIAL Com*mer"cial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. commercial.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to commerce; carrying on or occupied with commerce or trade; mercantile; as, commercial advantages; commercial relations. "Princely commercial houses." Macaulay. Commercial college, a school for giving instruction in commercial knowledge and business. -- Commercial law. See under Law. -- Commercial note paper, a small size of writing paper, usually about 5 by 7½ or 8 inches. -- Commercial paper, negotiable paper given in due course of business. It includes bills of exchange, promissory notes, bank cheks, etc. -- Commercial traveler, an agent of a wholesale house who travels from town to town to solicit orders.

Syn. -- See Mercantile.

COMMERCIALISM Com*mer"cial*ism, n.

Defn: The commercial spirit or method. C. Kingsley.

COMMERCIALLY Com*mer"cial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a commercial manner.

COMMIGRATE Com"mi*grate, v. i. Etym: [L. commigrare, commigratum.]

Defn: To migrate together. [R.]

COMMIGRATION Com`mi*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. commigratio.]

Defn: Migration together. [R.] Woodward.

COMMINATION Com`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. comminatio, from comminary to threaten; com- + minari to threaten: cf. F. commination.]

1. A threat or threatening; a denunciation of punishment or vengeance. With terrible comminations to all them that did resist. I. Taylor.

2. An office in the liturgy of the Church of England, used on Ash Wednesday, containing a recital of God's anger and judgments against sinners.

COMMINATORY Com*min"a*to"ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. comminatoire.]

Defn: Threatening or denouncing punishment; as, comminatory terms. B. Jonson.

COMMINGLE Com*min"gle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Commingled; p. pr. & vb. n. Commingling.]

Defn: To mingle together; to mix in one mass, or intimately; to blend. Bacon.

COMMINGLER Com*min"gler, n.

Defn: One that commingles; specif., a device for noiseless heating of water by steam, in a vessel filled with a porous mass, as of pebbles.

COMMINUTE Com"mi*nute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comminuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comminuting.] Etym: [L. comminutus, p. p. of comminuere to comminute; com- + minuere to lessen. See Minute.]

Defn: To reduce to minute particles, or to a fine powder; to pulverize; to triturate; to grind; as, to comminute chalk or bones; to comminute food with the teeth. Pennant. Comminuted fracture. See under Fracture.

COMMINUTION Com`mi*nu"tion, n.

1. The act of reducing to a fine powder or to small particles; pulverization; the state of being comminuted. Bentley.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: Fracture (of a bone) into a number of pieces. Dunglison.

3. Gradual diminution by the removal of small particles at a time; a lessening; a wearing away. Natural and necessary comminution of our lives. Johnson.

COMMISERABLE Com*mis"er*a*ble, a.

Defn: Pitiable. [Obs.] Bacon.

COMMISERATE Com*mis"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commiserated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commiserating.] Etym: [L. commiseratus, p. p. of commiserari to commiserate; com- + miserari to pity. See Miserable.]

Defn: To feel sorrow, pain, or regret for; to pity. Then must we those, who groan, beneath the weight Of age, disease, or want, commiserate. Denham. We should commiserate our mutual ignorance. Locke.

Syn. -- To pity; compassionate; lament; condole.

COMMISERATION Com*mis`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [F. commis, fr. L. commiseratio a part of an oration intended to exite compassion.]

Defn: The act of commiserating; sorrow for the wants, afflictions, or distresses of another; pity; compassion. And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint. Shak.

Syn. -- See Sympathy.

COMMISERATIVE Com*mis"er*a*tive, a.

Defn: Feeling or expressing commiseration. Todd.

COMMISERATOR Com*mis"er*a`tor, n.

Defn: One who pities.

COMMISSARIAL Com`mis*sa"ri*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a commissary.

COMMISSARIAT Com`mis*sa"ri*at, n. Etym: [F. commissariat.] (Mil.) (a) The organized system by which armies and military posts are supplied with food and daily necessaries. (b) The body of officers charged with such service.

COMMISSARY Com"mis*sa*ry, n.; pl. Commissaries. Etym: [LL. commissarius, fr. L. commissus, p. p. of committere to commit, intrust to. See Commit.]

1. One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a superior power; a commissioner. Great Destiny, the Commissary of God. Donne.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: An officer on the bishop, who exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction in parts of the diocese at a distance from the residence of the bishop. Ayliffe.

3. (Mil.) (a) An officer having charge of a special sevice; as, the commissary of musters. (b) An officer whose business is to provide food for a body of troops or a military post; -- officially called commissary of subsistence. [U. S.] Washington wrote to the President of Congress . . . urging the appointment of a commissary general, a quartermaster general, a commissary of musters, and a commissary of artillery. W. Irving Commissary general, an officer in charge of some special department of army service; as: (a) The officer in charge of the commissariat and transport department, or of the ordinace store department. [Eng.] (b) The commissary general of subsistence. [U. S.] -- Commissary general of subsistence (Mil. U. S.), the head of the subsistence department, who has charge of the purchase and issue of provisions for the army.

COMMISSARYSHIP Com"mis*sa*ry*ship, n.

Defn: The office or employment of a commissary. Ayliffe.

COMMISSION Com*mis"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. commissio. See Commit.]

1. The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of perpetrating. Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness. South.

2. The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust shall be executed.

3. The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a trust; a charge.

4. A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties. Let him see our commission. Shak.

5. A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority; as, a colonel's commission.

6. A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the execution of some trust; as, the interstate commerce commission. A commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter. Prescott.

7. (Com.) (a) The acting under authority of, or on account of, another. (b) The thing to be done as agent for another; as, I have three commissions for the city. (c) The brokerage or allowance made to a factor or agent for transacting business for another; as, a commission of ten per cent on sales. See Del credere. Commission of array. (Eng. Hist.) See under Array. -- Commission of bankrupty, a commission apointing and empowering certain persons to examine into the facts relative to an alleged bankrupty, and to secure the bankrupt's lands and effects for the creditors. -- Commission of lunacy, a commission authoring and inquiry whether a person is a lunatic or not. -- Commission merchant, one who buys or sells goods on commission, as the agent of others, receiving a rate per cent as his compensation. -- Commission, or Commissioned, officer (Mil.), one who has a commission, in distingtion from a noncommossioned or warrant officer. -- Commission of the peace, a commission under the great seal, constituting one or more persons justices of the peace. [Eng.] -- To put a vessel into commission (Naut.), to equip and man a goverment vessel, and send it out on service after it has been laid up; esp., the formal act of tacking command of a vessel for service, hoisting the flag, reading the orders, etc. -- To put a vessel out of commission (Naut.), to detach the officers and crew and retire it from active service, temporarily or permanently. -- To put the great seal, or the Treasury, into commission, to place it in the hands of a commissioner or commissioners during the abeyance of the ordinary administration, as between the going out of one lord keeper and accession of another. [Eng.] -- The United States Christians Commission, an organization among the people of the North, during the Civil War, which afforded material comforts to the Union soldiers, and performed services of a religious character in the field and in hospitals. -- The United States Sanitary Commission, an organization formed by the people of the North to coöperate with and supplement the medical department of the Union armies during the Civil War.

Syn. -- Charge; warrant; authority; mandate; office; trust; employment.

COMMISSION Com*mis"sion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commissioned; p. pr & vb. n. Commissioning.]

1. To give a commission to; to furnish with a commission; to empower or authorize; as, to commission persons to perform certain acts; to commission an officer.

2. To send out with a charge or commission. A chosen band He first commissions to the Latian land. Dryden.

Syn. -- To appoint; depute; authorize; empower; delegate; constitute; ordain.

COMMISSIONAIRE Com*mis`sion*aire", n. [F. commissionnaire. Cf. Commissioner.]

1. One intrusted with a commission, now only a small commission, as an errand; esp., an attendant or subordinate employee in a public office, hotel, or the like. The commissionaire familiar to European travelers performs miscellaneous services as a light porter, messenger, solicitor for hotels, etc.

2. One of a corps of pensioned soldiers, as in London, employed as doorkeepers, messengers, etc.

COMMISSIONAL; COMMISSIONARY Com*mis"sion*al, Com*mis"sion*a*ry a.

Defn: Of pertaining to, or conferring, a commission; conferred by a commission or warrant. [R.] Delegate or commissionary authority. Bp. Hall.

COMMISSIONATE Com*mis"sion*ate, v. t.

Defn: To commission [Obs.]

COMMISSIONER Com*mis"sion*er, n.

1. A person who has a commission or warrant to perform some office, or execute some bussiness, for the goverment, corporation, or person employing him; as, a commissioner to take affidavits or to adjust claims. To another adress which requisted that a commission might be sent to examine into the state of things in Ireland, William returned a gracious answer, and desired the Commons to name the commissioners. Macaulay.