Chapter 303

I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age. Fuller.

Commence <Xpage=284>

Com*mence" , v. t. To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of.

Many a wooer doth commence his suit. Shak.

&hand; 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mence"ment (?) , n. [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." <?/allam.

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

Commend <Xpage=284>

Com*mend" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Commended ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commending .] [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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mend" , n. 1. Commendation; praise. [Obs.]

Speak in his just commend . Shak.

2. pl. Compliments; greetings. [Obs.]

Hearty commends and much endeared love to you. Howell.

Commendable <Xpage=284>

Com*mend"a*ble (?) , a. (Formerly accented on the first syllable.) [L. commendabilis .] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*men"dam (?) , 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.

There was [formerly] some sense for commendams . Selden.

Partnership in commendam . See under Partnership .

Commendatary <Xpage=284>

Com*mend"a*ta*ry (?) , n. [Cf. F. commendataire , LL. commendatarius .] One who holds a living in commendam .

Commendation <Xpage=284>

Com`men*da"tion (?) , n. [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. A message of affection or respect; compliments; greeting. [Obs.]

Hark you, Margaret; No princely commendations to my king? Shak.

Commendator <Xpage=284>

Com*mend"a*tor (? &or; ?) , n. [LL.] One who holds a benefice in commendam; a commendatary.

Chalmers.

Commendatory <Xpage=284>

Com*mend"a*to*ry (?) , a. [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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mend"a*to*ry , n. A commendation; eulogy. [R.] " Commendatories to our affection."

Sharp.

Commender <Xpage=284>

Com*mend"er (?) , n. One who commends or praises.

Commensal <Xpage=284>

Com*men"sal (?) , n. [LL. commensalis ; L. com- + mensa table: cf. F. commensal . Cf. Mensal.] 1. One who eats at the same table. [Obs.]

2. (Zo\'94l.) 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*men"sal (?) , a. Having the character of a commensal.

Commensalism <Xpage=284>

Com*men"sal*ism (?) , n. The act of eating together; table fellowship.

Commensality <Xpage=284>

Com`men*sal"i*ty (?) , n. Fellowship at table; the act or practice of eating at the same table. [Obs.] "Promiscuous commensality ."

Sir T. Browne.

Commensation <Xpage=284>

Com`men*sa"tion (?) , n. Commensality. [Obs.]

Daniel . . . declined pagan commensation . Sir T. Browne.

Commensurability <Xpage=284>

Com*men`su*ra*bil"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. commensurabilite .] The quality of being commersurable.

Sir T. Browne.

Commensurable <Xpage=284>

Com*men"su*ra*ble (?) , a. [L. commensurabilis ; pref. com- + mensurable . See Commensurate , and cf. Commeasurable .] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*men"su*ra*bly (?) , adv. In a commensurable manner; so as to be commensurable.

Commensurate <Xpage=284>

Com*men"su*rate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Commensurated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commensurating .] [Pref. com- + mensurate .] 1. To reduce to a common measure.

Sir T. Browne.

2. To proportionate; to adjust.

T. Puller

Commensurate <Xpage=284>

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 <Xpage=284>

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 <Xpage=284>

Com*men"su*rate*ness , n. The state or quality of being commensurate.

Foster.

Commensuration <Xpage=284>

Com*men`su*ra"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. commensuration .] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com"ment (?; 277) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Commented ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commenting .] [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 .] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com"ment , v. t. To comment on. [Archaic.]

Fuller.

Comment <Xpage=284>

Com"ment , n. [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 <Xpage=284>

Com"men*ta*ry (?) , n. ; pl. Commentaries (#) . [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 <Xpage=284>

Com"men*tate (?) , v. t. & i. [L. commentatus , p. p. of commentari to meditate.] To write comments or notes upon; to make comments. [R.]

Commentate upon it, and return it enriched. Lamb.

Commentation <Xpage=284>

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 <Xpage=284>

Com"men*ta`tor (?) , n. [L. commentator : cf. F. commentateur .] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com`men*ta*to"ri*al (? &or; <?/) , a. Pertaining to the making of commentaries.

Whewell.

Commentatorship <Xpage=284>

Com"men*ta`tor*ship (?) , n. The office or occupation of a commentator.

Commenter <Xpage=284>

Com"ment`er (?) , n. One who makes or writes comments; a commentator; an annotator.

Commentitious <Xpage=284>

Com`men*ti"tious (?) , a. [L. commentitius .] Fictitious or imaginary; unreal; as, a commentitious system of religion . [Obs.]

Warburton.

Commerce <Xpage=284>

Com"merce (?) , n. (Formerly accented on the second syllable.) [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 <Xpage=284>

Com*merce" (? &or; <?/) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Commerced (#) ; p>. pr. & vb. n . Commercing .] [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.

Commercial <Xpage=284>

Com*mer"cial (?) , a. [Cf. F. commercial .] 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 7\'ab 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mer"cial*ism (?) , n. The commercial spirit or method.

C. Kingsley.

Commercially <Xpage=284>

Com*mer"cial*ly , adv. In a commercial manner.

Commigrate <Xpage=284>

Com"mi*grate (?) , v. i. [L. commigrare , commigratum .] To migrate together. [R.]

Commigration <Xpage=284>

Com`mi*gra"tion (?) , n. [L. commigratio .] Migration together. [R.]

Woodward.

Commination <Xpage=284>

Com`mi*na"tion (?) , n. [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 <Xpage=284>

Com*min"a*to"ry (?) , a. [Cf. F. comminatoire .] Threatening or denouncing punishment; as, comminatory terms .

B. Jonson.

Commingle <Xpage=284>

Com*min"gle (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Commingled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commingling (?) .] To mingle together; to mix in one mass, or intimately; to blend.

Bacon.

Comminute <Xpage=284>

Com"mi*nute (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Comminuted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Comminuting .] [L. comminutus , p. p. of comminuere to comminute; com- + minuere to lessen. See Minute .] 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 <Xpage=284>

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.) 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"er*a*ble (?) , a. Pitiable. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Commiserate <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"er*ate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Commiserated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commiserating .] [L. commiseratus , p. p. of commiserari to commiserate; com- + miserari to pity. See Miserable .] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mis`er*a"tion (?) , n. [F. commis<?/ration , fr. L. commiseratio a part of an oration intended to exite compassion.] 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 <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"er*a*tive (?) , a. Feeling or expressing commiseration.

Todd.

Commiserator <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"er*a`tor (?) , n. One who pities.

Commissarial <Xpage=284>

Com`mis*sa"ri*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a commissary.

Commissariat <Xpage=284>

Com`mis*sa"ri*at (?; 277) , n. [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 <Xpage=284>

Com"mis*sa*ry (?) , n. ; pl. Commissaries (#) . [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.) 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