Commandable - Commentatorship

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Commandable (?), a. Capable of being commanded.
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Commandant (?), n. [F., orig. p. pr. of commander.] A commander; the commanding officer of a place, or of a body of men; as, the commandant of a navy-yard.
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Commandatory (?), a. Mandatory; as, commandatory authority. [Obs.]
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Commandeer (?), 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 .] 1. (Mil.) To compel to perform military service; to seize for military purposes; -- orig. used of the Boers.
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2. To take arbitrary or forcible possession of. [Colloq.]
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Commander (?), n. [Cf. F. commandeur. Cf. , .] 1. A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it.
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A leader and commander to the people. Is. lv. 4.
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2. (Navy) An officer who ranks next below a captain, -- ranking with a lieutenant colonel in the army.
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3. The chief officer of a commandery.
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4. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc.
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Coloq. 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 .
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Commandership, n. The office of a commander.
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Commandery (?), n.; pl. Commanderies (#). [F. commanderie.] 1. The office or rank of a commander. [Obs.]
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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.
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3. An assembly or lodge of Knights Templars (so called) among the Freemasons. [U. S.]
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4. A district under the administration of a military commander or governor. [R.] Brougham.
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Commanding, a. 1. Exercising authority; actually in command; as, a commanding officer.
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2. Fitted to impress or control; as, a commanding look or presence.
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3. Exalted; overlooking; having superior strategic advantages; as, a commanding position.

Syn. -- Authoritative; imperative; imperious.
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Commandingly, adv. In a commanding manner.
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Commandment (?), n. [OF. commandement, F. commandement.] 1. An order or injunction given by authority; a command; a charge; a precept; a mandate.
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A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another. John xiii. 34.
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2. (Script.) One of the ten laws or precepts given by God to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
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3. The act of commanding; exercise of authority.
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And therefore put I on the countenance
Of stern commandment. Shak.
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4. (Law) The offense of commanding or inducing another to violate the law.
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Coloq. The Commandments , Coloq. The Ten Commandments , the Decalogue, or summary of God's commands, given to Moses at Mount Sinai. (Ex. xx.)
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Commando (?), n. [D. See , v. t.] 1. 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.
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2. a usually small military unit trained to perform special missions, often behind enemy lines, and usually employing hit-and-run tactics. Such units often have the destruction of fixed targets, such as enemy installations, as their mission, in contrast to normal combat units which engage the enemy army directly.
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3. a member of a commando{2} unit.
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Commandress (?), n. A woman invested with authority to command. Hooker.
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Commandry (?), n. See .
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Commark (?), n. [OF. comarque, or LL. commarca, commarcha; com- + marcha, boundary. See a confine.] The frontier of a country; confines. [Obs.] Shelton.
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Commaterial (?), a. Consisting of the same material. [Obs.] Bacon.
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Commatic (?), a. [L. commaticus, Gr. �. See .] Having short clauses or sentences; brief; concise.
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Commatism (?), n. [See .] Conciseness in writing. Bp. Horsley.
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Commeasurable (?), a. [Cf. .] Having the same measure; commensurate; proportional.
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She being now removed by death, a commeasurable grief took as full possession of him as joy had done. I. Walton.
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Commeasure (?), v. t. To be commensurate with; to equal. Tennyson.
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Commemorable (?), a. [L. commemorabilis.] Worthy to be commemorated.
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Commemorate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commemorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commemorating.] [L. commemoratus, p. p. of commemorare to remember; com- + memorare to mention, fr. memor mindful. See .] 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 or 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.
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We are called upon to commemorate a revolution. Atterbury.

Syn. -- See .
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commemorating adj. of or pertaining to a commemoration; serving to commemorate.
Syn. -- commemorative.
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Commemoration (?), n. [L. commemoratio.] 1. The act of commemorating; an observance or celebration designed to honor the memory of some person or event.
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This sacrament was designed to be a standing commemoration of the death and passion of our Lord. Abp. Tillotson.
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The commonwealth which . . . chooses the most flagrant act of murderous regicide treason for a feast of eternal commemoration. Burke.
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2. Whatever serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial.
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Coloq. 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.
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Commemorative (?), a. Tending or intended to commemorate; as, a commemorative plaque. “A sacrifice commemorative of Christ's offering up his body for us.” Hammond.
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An inscription commemorative of his victory. Sir G. C. Lewis.
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Commemorative (?), n. something that commemorates, especially a postage stamp or coin having a design commemorating some event, person, institution, etc.
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Commemorator (?), n. [L.] One who commemorates.
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Commemoratory (?), a. Serving to commemorate; commemorative. Bp. Hooper.
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Commence (kŏmmĕns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commenced (kŏmmĕnst); p. pr. & vb. n. Commencing.] [F. commencer, OF. comencier, fr. L. com- + initiare to begin. See .] 1. To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin.
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Here the anthem doth commence. Shak.
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His heaven commences ere the world be past. Goldsmith.
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2. To begin to be, or to act as. [Archaic]
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We commence judges ourselves. Coleridge.
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3. To take a degree at a university. [Eng.]
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I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age. Fuller.
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Commence, v. t. To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of.
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Many a wooer doth commence his suit. Shak.
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☞ 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.
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Commencement (?), n. [F. commencement.] 1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start.
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The time of Henry VII. . . . nearly coincides with the commencement of what is termed “modern history.” Hallam.
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2. The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities upon students and others.
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Commend (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commended; p. pr. & vb. n. Commending.] [L. commendare; com- + mandare to intrust to one's charge, enjoin, command. Cf. , .] 1. To commit, intrust, or give in charge for care or preservation.
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His eye commends the leading to his hand. Shak.
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Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke xxiii. 46.
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2. To recommend as worthy of confidence or regard; to present as worthy of notice or favorable attention.
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Among the objects of knowledge, two especially commend themselves to our contemplation. Sir M. Hale.
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I commend unto you Phebe our sister. Rom. xvi. 1.
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3. To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or an act.
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Historians commend Alexander for weeping when he read the actions of Achilles. Dryden.
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4. To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and good will. [Archaic]
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Commend me to my brother. Shak.
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Commend, n. 1. Commendation; praise. [Obs.]
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Speak in his just commend. Shak.
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2. pl. Compliments; greetings. [Obs.]
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Hearty commends and much endeared love to you. Howell.
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Commendable (?), a. (Formerly accented on the first syllable.) [L. commendabilis.] Worthy of being commended or praised; laudable; praiseworthy.
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Order and decent ceremonies in the church are not only comely but commendable. Bacon.

-- Commendableness, n. -- Commendably, adv.
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Commendam (?), n. [LL. dare in commendam to give into trust.] (Eng. Eccl. Law) 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.
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There was [formerly] some sense for commendams. Selden.
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Coloq. Partnership in commendam . See under .
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Commendatary (?), n. [Cf. F. commendataire, LL. commendatarius.] One who holds a living in commendam.
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Commendation (?), n. [L. commendatio.] 1. The act of commending; praise; favorable representation in words; recommendation.
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Need we . . . epistles of commendation? 2 Cor. iii. 1.
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By the commendation of the great officers. Bacon.
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2. That which is the ground of approbation or praise.
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Good nature is the most godlike commendation of a man. Dryden.
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3. pl. A message of affection or respect; compliments; greeting. [Obs.]
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Hark you, Margaret;
No princely commendations to my king? Shak.
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Commendator (? or ?), n. [LL.] One who holds a benefice in commendam; a commendatary. Chalmers.
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Commendatory (?), a. [L. commendatorius.] 1. Serving to commend; containing praise or commendation; commending; praising. “Commendatory verses.” Pope.
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2. Holding a benefice in commendam; as, a commendatory bishop. Burke.
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Coloq. 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.
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Commendatory, n. A commendation; eulogy. [R.] “Commendatories to our affection.” Sharp.
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Commender (?), n. One who commends or praises.
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Commensal (?), n. [LL. commensalis; L. com- + mensa table: cf. F. commensal. Cf. Mensal.] 1. One who eats at the same table. [Obs.]
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2. (Zoöl.) 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.
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Commensal (?), a. Having the character of a commensal.
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Commensalism (?), n. The act of eating together; table fellowship.
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Commensality (?), n. Fellowship at table; the act or practice of eating at the same table. [Obs.] “Promiscuous commensality.” Sir T. Browne.
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Commensation (?), n. Commensality. [Obs.]
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Daniel . . . declined pagan commensation. Sir T. Browne.
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Commensurability (?), n. [Cf. F. commensurabilité.] The quality of being commensurable. Sir T. Browne.
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Commensurable (?), a. [L. commensurabilis; pref. com- + mensurable. See , and cf. .] Having a common measure; capable of being exactly measured by the same number, quantity, or measure. -- Commensurableness, n.
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Coloq. Commensurable numbers or Coloq. Commensurable 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. -- Coloq. Numbers commensurable in power , or Coloq. Quantities commensurable in power , those whose squares are commensurable.
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Commensurably (?), adv. In a commensurable manner; so as to be commensurable.
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Commensurate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commensurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commensurating.] [Pref. com- + mensurate.] 1. To reduce to a common measure. Sir T. Browne.
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2. To proportionate; to adjust. T. Puller
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Commensurate (?), a. 1. Having a common measure; commensurable; reducible to a common measure; as, commensurate quantities.
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2. Equal in measure or extent; proportionate.
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Those who are persuaded that they shall continue forever, can not choose but aspire after a happiness commensurate to their duration. Tillotson.
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Commensurately, adv. 1. In a commensurate manner; so as to be equal or proportionate; adequately.
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2. With equal measure or extent. Goodwin.
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Commensurateness, n. The state or quality of being commensurate. Foster.
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Commensuration (?), n. [Cf. F. commensuration.] The act of commensurating; the state of being commensurate.
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All fitness lies in a particular commensuration, or proportion of one thing to another. South.
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Comment (?; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commented; p. pr. & vb. n. Commenting.] [F. commenter, L. commentari to meditate upon, explain, v. intens. of comminisci, commentus, to reflect upon, invent; com- + the root of meminisse to remember, mens mind. See .] 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.
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A physician to comment on your malady. Shak.
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Critics . . . proceed to comment on him. Dryden.
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I must translate and comment. Pope.
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Comment, v. t. To comment on. [Archaic.] Fuller.
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Comment, n. [Cf. OF. comment.] 1. A remark, observation, or criticism; gossip; discourse; talk.
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Their lavish comment when her name was named. Tennyson.
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2. A note or observation intended to explain, illustrate, or criticise the meaning of a writing, book, etc.; explanation; annotation; exposition.
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All the volumes of philosophy,
With all their comments. Prior.
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Commentary (?), n.; pl. Commentaries (#). [L. commentarius, commentarium, note book, commentary: cf. F. commentaire. See , 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.
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This letter . . . was published by him with a severe commentary. Hallam.
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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.
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Commentate (?), v. t. & i. [L. commentatus, p. p. of commentari to meditate.] To write comments or notes upon; to make comments. [R.]
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Commentate upon it, and return it enriched. Lamb.
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Commentation (?), n. 1. The act or process of commenting or criticising; exposition. [R.]
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The spirit of commentation. Whewell.
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2. The result of the labors of a commentator.
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Commentator (?), n. [L. commentator: cf. F. commentateur.] One who writes a commentary or comments; an expositor; an annotator.
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The commentator's professed object is to explain, to enforce, to illustrate doctrines claimed as true. Whewell.
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Commentatorial (? or ?), a. Pertaining to the making of commentaries. Whewell.
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Commentatorship (?), n. The office or occupation of a commentator.
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