Chapter 304

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 <Xpage=284>

Com"mis*sa*ry*ship (?) , n. The office or employment of a commissary.

Ayliffe.

Commission <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"sion (?) , n. [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 co\'94perate with and supplement the medical department of the Union armies during the Civil War.

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

Commission <Xpage=284>

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.

Commissional, Commissionary <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"sion*al (?) , Com*mis"sion*a*ry (?) a. Of pertaining to, or conferring, a commission; conferred by a commission or warrant. [R.]

Delegate or commissionary authority. Bp. Hall.

Commissionate <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"sion*ate (?) , v. t. To commission [Obs.]

Commissioner <Xpage=284>

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.

2. An officer having charge of some department or bureau of the public service.

Herbert was first commissioner of the Admiralty. Macaulay.

The commissioner of patents, the commissioner of the land office, the commissioner of Indian affairs, are subotdinates of the secretary of the interior. Bartlett.

Commissioner of deeds , an officer having authority to take affidavits, depositions, acknowledgment of deeds, etc., for use in the State by which he is appointed. [U. S.] -- County commissioners , certain administrative officers in some of the States, invested by local laws with various powers in reference to the roads, courthouses, financial matters, etc., of the county. [U. S.]

Commissionnaire <Xpage=284>

Com*mis`sion*naire" (?; F. ?) , n. [F., fr. L. commissio .] 1. An agent or factor; a commission merchant.

2. One of a class of attendants, in some European cities, who perform miscellaneous services for travelers.

Commissionship <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"sion*ship (?) , n. The office of commissioner.

Sir W. Scott.

Commissive <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"sive (?) , a. Relating to commission; of the nature of, or involving, commission. [R.]

Commissural <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"su*ral (? &or; ?) , a. Of or pertaining to a commissure.

Commissure <Xpage=284>

Com*mis"sure (? &or; ?; 134-6) , n. [L. commissura a joing together: cf. F. commissure . See Commit .] 1. A joint, seam, or closure; the place where two bodies, or parts of a body, meet and unite; an interstice, cleft, or juncture.

2. (Anat. & Zo\'94l.) (a) The point of union between two parts, as the angles of the lips or eyelids, the mandibles of a bird, etc. (b) A collection of fibers connecting parts of the brain or spinal marrow; a chiasma.

3. (Bot.) The line of junction or cohering face of two carpels, as in the parsnip, caraway, etc.

Commit <Xpage=284>

Com*mit" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Commited ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commiting .] [L. committere , commissum , to connect, commit; com- + mittere to send. See Mission .] 1. To give in trust; to put into charge or keeping; to intrust; to consign; -- used with to , unto .

Commit thy way unto the Lord. Ps. xxxvii. 5.

Bid him farewell, commit him to the grave. Shak.

2. To put in charge of a jailor; to imprison.

These two were commited . Clarendon.

3. To do; to perperate, as a crime, sin, or fault.

Thou shalt not commit adultery. Ex. xx. 14.

4. To join a contest; to match; -- followed by with . [R.]

Dr. H. More.

5. To pledge or bind; to compromise, expose, or endanger by some decisive act or preliminary step; -- often used reflexively; as, to commit one's self to a certain course .

You might have satisfied every duty of political friendship, without commiting the honor of your sovereign. Junius.

Any sudden assent to the proposal . . . might possibly be considered as committing the faith of the United States. Marshall.

6. To confound. [An obsolete Latinism.]

Committing short and long [quantities]. Milton.

To commit a bill (Legislation) , to refer or intrust it to a committee or others, to be considered and reported. -- To commit to memory , &or; To commit , to learn by heart; to memorize.

Syn. -- To Commit , Intrust , Consign . These words have in common the idea of transferring from one's self to the care and custody of another. Commit is the widest term, and may express only the general idea of delivering into the charge of another; as, to commit a lawsuit to the care of an attorney; or it may have the special sense of intrusting with or without limitations, as to a superior power, or to a careful servant, or of consigning, as to writing or paper, to the flames, or to prison. To intrust denotes the act of committing to the exercise of confidence or trust; as, to intrust a friend with the care of a child, or with a secret. To consign is a more formal act, and regards the thing transferred as placed chiefly or wholly out of one's immediate control; as, to consign a pupil to the charge of his instructor; to consign goods to an agent for sale; to consign a work to the press.

Commit <Xpage=284>

Com"mit , v. i. To sin; esp., to be incontinent. [Obs.]

Commit not with man's sworn spouse. Shak.

Commitment <Xpage=284>

Com*mit"ment (?) , n. 1. The act of commiting, or putting in charge, keeping, or trust; consigment; esp., the act of commiting to prison.

They were glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower, whence he was within few days enlarged. Clarendon.

2. A warrant or order for the imprisonment of a person; -- more frequently termed a mittimus .

3. The act of referring or intrusting to a committee for consideration and report; as, the commitment of a petition or a bill .

4. A doing, or preperation, in a bad sense, as of a crime or blunder; commission.

5. The act of pledging or engaging; the act of exposing, endangering, or compromising; also, the state of being pledged or engaged.

Hamilton.

Committable <Xpage=284>

Com*mit"ta*ble (?) , a. Capable of being committed.

Committal <Xpage=284>

Com*mit"tal (?) , n. The act of commiting, or the state of being committed; commitment.

Committee <Xpage=284>

Com*mit"tee (?) , n. [Cf. OF. comit\'82 company, and LL. comitatus jurisdiction or territory of a count, county, assize, army. The word was apparently influenced by the verb commit , but not directly formed from it. Cf. County .] One or more persons elected or appointed, to whom any matter or bussiness is referred, either by a legislative body, or by a court, or by any collective body of men acting together.

Commitee of the whole [house] , a committee, embracing all the members present, into which a legislative or deliberative body sometimes resolves itself, for the purpose of considering a particular measure under the operation of different rules from those governing the general legislative proceedings. The committee of the whole has its own chairman, and reports its action in the form of recommendations. -- Standing committee . See under Standing .

<page="286"> Page 286

Committee <Xpage=286>

Com`mit*tee" (?) , n. [From Commit , v. t. ] (Law) One to whom the charge of the person or estate of another, as of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian.

Committeeman <Xpage=286>

Com*mit"tee*man (?) , n. A member of a committee.

Committer <Xpage=286>

Com*mit"ter (?) , n. 1. One who commits; one who does or perpetrates.

South.

2. A fornicator. [Obs.]

T. Decker.

Committible <Xpage=286>

Com*mit"ti*ble (?) , a. Capable of being committed; liable to be committed. [R.]

Sir T. Browne.

Commix <Xpage=286>

Com*mix" (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Commixed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Commixing .] [Pref. com + + mix : cf. L. commixtus , p. p.of commiscere . See Mix .] To mix or mingle together; to blend.

The commixed impressions of all the colors do stir up and beget a sensation of white. Sir I. Newton.

To commix With winds that sailors rail at. Shak.

Commixion <Xpage=286>

Com*mix"ion (?) , n. [See Commix .] Commixture.

Shak.

Commixtion <Xpage=286>

Com*mix"tion (?; 106) , n. [L. commixtio .] Commixture; mingling. [R.]

An exact commixtion of the ingredients. Boyle.

Commixture <Xpage=286>

Com*mix"ture (?; 135) , n. [L. commixtura .] 1. The act or process of mixing; the state of being mingled; the blending of ingredients in one mass or compound.

In the commixture of anything that is more oily or sweet, such bodies are least apt to putrefy. Bacon.

2. The mass formed by mingling different things; a compound; a mixture.

Bacon.

Commodate <Xpage=286>

Com"mo*date (?) , n. [L. commodatum thing lent, loan.] (Scots Law) A gratuitous loan.

Commode <Xpage=286>

Com*mode" (?) , n. [F. commode , fr. commode convenient, L. commodus ; com- + modus measure, mode. See Mode .] 1. A kind of headdress formerly worn by ladies, raising the hair and fore part of the cap to a great height.

Or under high commodes , with looks erect. Granville.

2. A piece of furniture, so named according to temporary fashion; as: (a) A cheat of drawers or a bureau. (b) A night stand with a compartment for holding a chamber vessel. (c) A kind of close stool. (d) A movable sink for a wash bowl, with closet.

Commodious <Xpage=286>

Com*mo"di*ous (?) , a. [LL. commodiosus , fr. L. commodum convenience, fr. commodus . See Commode .] Adapted to its use or purpose, or to wants and necessities; serviceable; spacious and convenient; roomy and comfortable; as, a commodious house . "A commodious drab." Shak. " Commodious gold." Pope.

The haven was not commodious to winter in. Acts. xxvii. 12.

Syn. -- Convenient; suitable; fit; proper; advantageous; serviceable; useful; spacious; comfortable.

Commodiously <Xpage=286>

Com*mo"di*ous*ly , adv. In a commodious manner.

To pass commodiously this life. Milton.

Commodiousness <Xpage=286>

Com*mo"di*ous*ness , n. State of being commodious; suitableness for its purpose; convience; roominess.

Of cities, the greatness and riches increase according to the commodiousness of their situation. Sir W. Temple.

The commodiousness of the harbor. Johnson.

Commodity <Xpage=286>

Com*mod"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Commodities (#) . [F. commodit<?/ , fr. L. commoditas . See Commode .] 1. Convenience; accommodation; profit; benefit; advantage; interest; commodiousness. [Obs.]

Drawn by the commodity of a footpath. B. Jonson.

Men may seek their own commodity , yet if this were done with injury to others, it was not to be suffered. Hooker.

2. That which affords convenience, advantage, or profit, especially in commerce, including everything movable that is bought and sold (except animals), -- goods, wares, merchandise, produce of land and manufactures, etc.

3. A parcel or quantity of goods. [Obs.]

A commodity of brown paper and old ginger. Shak.

Commodore <Xpage=286>

Com"mo*dore` (?) , n. [Prob. a corruption of commander , or Sp. comendador a knight of a military order who holds a commandery; also a superior of a monastery;, fr. LL. commendare to command. Cf. Commend , Command , Commander .] 1. (U. S. Navy) An officer who ranks next above a captain; sometimes, by courtesy, the senior captain of a squadron. The rank of commodore corresponds with that of brigadier general in the army.

2. (Brititsh Navy) A captain commanding a squadron, or a division of a fleet, or having the temporary rank of rear admiral.

3. A title given courtesy to the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels, and also to the chief officer of a yachting or rowing club.

4. A familiar for the flagchip, or for the principal vessel of a squadron or fleet.

Common <Xpage=286>

Com"mon (?) , a. [ Compar. Commoner (?) ; superl. Commonest .] [OE. commun , comon , OF. comun , F. commun , fr. L. communis ; com- + munis ready to be of service; cf. Skr. mi to make fast, set up, build, Coth. gamains common, G. gemein , and E. mean low, common. Cf. Immunity , Commune , n. & v. ] 1. Belonging or relating equally, or similary, to more than one; as, you and I have a common interest in the property .

Though life and sense be common to men and brutes. Sir M. Hale.

2. Belonging to or shared by, affecting or serving, all the members of a class, consired together; general; public; as, propertis common to all plants; the common schools; the Book of Common Prayer.

Such actions as the common good requereth. Hocker.

The common enemy of man. Shak.

3. Often met with; usual; frequent; customary.

Grief more than common grief. Shak.

4. Not distinguished or exceptional; inconspicuous; ordinary; plebeian; -- often in a depreciatory sense.

The honest, heart-felt enjoyment of common life. W. Irving.

This fact was infamous And ill beseeming any common man, Much more a knight, a captain and a leader. Shak.

Above the vulgar flight of common souls. A. Murpphy.

5. Profane; polluted. [Obs.]

What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common . Acts x. 15.

6. Given to habits of lewdness; prostitute.

A dame who herself was common . L'Estrange.