Chapter 302

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 <Xpage=283>

Com"fort*a*ble (?) , a. [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 <Xpage=283>

Com"fort*a*ble , n. A stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a comfort. [U. S.]

Comfortableness <Xpage=283>

Com"fort*a*ble*ness , n. State of being comfortable or comforting manner.

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

Comforter <Xpage=283>

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.) 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 <Xpage=283>

Com"fort*less , a. 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 <Xpage=283>

Com"fort*ment (?) , n. Act or process of administering comfort. [Obs.]

The gentle comfortment and entertainment of the said embassador. Hakluyt.

Comfortress <Xpage=283>

Com"fort*ress (?) , n. A woman who comforts.

To be your comfortress , and to preserve you. B. Jonson.

Comfrey <Xpage=283>

Com"frey (?) , n. [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.) A rough, hairy, perennial plant of several species, of the genus Symphytum .

&hand; 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 <Xpage=283>

Com"ic (?) , a. [L. comicus pertaining to comedy, Gr. <?/: cf. F. 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 <Xpage=283>

Com"ic , n. A comedian. [Obs.]

Steele.

Comical <Xpage=283>

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 <Xpage=283>

Com`i*cal"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Comicalities (#) . The quality of being comical; something comical.

Comicry <Xpage=283>

Com"ic*ry (?) , n. The power of exciting mirth; comicalness. [R.]

H. Giles.

Coming <Xpage=283>

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 <Xpage=283>

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 <Xpage=283>

Co*mi"ti*a (?) , n. , pl. [L.] (Rom. Antiq.) A public assembly of the Roman people for electing officers or passing laws.

&hand; There were three kinds of comitia : comitia curiata , or assembly of the patricians, who voted in curi\'91; 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 <Xpage=283>

Co*mi"tial (?) , a. [L. comitialis .] Relating to the comitia, or popular assembles of the Romans for electing officers and passing laws.

Middleton.

Comity <Xpage=283>

Com"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Comities (#) . [L. comitas , fr. comis courteous, kind.] 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 <Xpage=283>

Com"ma (?) , n. [L. comma part of a sentence, comma, Gr. <?/ clause, fr. <?/ to cut off. Cf. Capon .] 1. A character or point [,] marking the smallest divisions of a sentence, written or printed.

2. (Mus.) 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 (Zo\'94l.) , an American butterfly ( Grapta comma ), having a white comma-shaped marking on the under side of the wings.

Command <Xpage=283>

Com*mand" (?; 61) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Commanded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commanding .] [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 <Xpage=283>

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 <Xpage=283>

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.

<page="284"> Page 284

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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being commanded.

Commandant <Xpage=284>

Com`man*dant" (?) , 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 .

Commandatory <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"a*to*ry (?) , a. Mandatory; as, commandatory authority . [Obs.]

Commander <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"er (?) , n. [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) 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"er*ship , n. The office of a commander.

Commandery <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"er*y (?) , n. ; pl. Commanderies (#) . [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 <Xpage=284>

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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"ing*ly , adv. In a commanding manner.

Commandment <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"ment (?) , n. [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.) 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) 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 .)

Commandress <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"ress (?) , n. A woman invested with authority to command.

Hooker.

Commandry <Xpage=284>

Com*mand"ry (?) , n. See Commandery .

Commark <Xpage=284>

Com"mark` (?) , n. [Of. comarque , or LL. commarca , commarcha ; com- + marcha , boundary. See March a confine.] The frontier of a country; confines. [Obs.]

Shelton.

Commaterial <Xpage=284>

Com`ma*te"ri*al (?) , a. Consisting of the same material. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Commatic <Xpage=284>

Com*mat"ic (?) , a. [L. commaticus , Gr. <?/. See Comma .] Having short clauses or sentences; brief; concise.

Commatism <Xpage=284>

Com"ma*tism (?) , n. [See Commatic .] Conciseness in writing.

Bp. Horsley.

Commeasurable <Xpage=284>

Com*meas"ur*a*ble (?) , a. [Cf. Commensurable .] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*meas"ure (?) , v. t. To be commensurate with; to equal.

Tennyson.

Commemorable <Xpage=284>

Com*mem"o*ra"ble (?) , a. [L. commemorabilis .] Worthy to be commemorated.

Commemorate <Xpage=284>

Com*mem"o*rate (?) , 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 Memory .] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mem`o*ra"tion (?) , n. [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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mem"o*ra*tive (?) , a. 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mem"o*ra`tor (?) , n. [L.] One who commemorates.

Commemoratory <Xpage=284>

Com*mem"o*ra*to*ry (?) , a. Serving to commemorate; commomerative.

Bp. Hooper.

Commence <Xpage=284>

Com*mence" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Commenced (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commencing .] [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.]