Comment | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Cŏm'ment, v. i.

verbintransitive

(Synop., § 130), v. i. [imp. & p. p. COMMENTED; p. pr. & vb. n. COMMENTING.] [Fr. commenter, It. commentare, Pg. commentar, Sp. comentar, Lat. commentari, to meditate upon, to explain, v. intens. of comminisci, commentus, to reflect upon, to invent, fr. com, for con, and minisci, to call to mind, fr. the root men, whence mens, mind.] To make remarks, observations, or criticisms, 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;—followed by on. “A physician to comment on your malady.” Shak.

Critics, having first taken a liking to one of these poets, proceed to comment on him. Dryden.

Cŏm'ment, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To explain; to expound. Fuller.

Sense 2. To feign; to devise. [Obs.] Spenser.

Cŏm'ment, n.

noun

n. [Lat. commentum, invention, fiction, from comminisci; L. Lat. for commentarius. See supra and infra.] A remark, observation, or criticism, which explains or illustrates something; especially a note intended to explain or illustrate the meaning of a writing, book, &c.; explanation; annotation.

In such a time as this it is not meet That every nice offense should bear its comment. Shak.

All the volumes of philosophy, With all their comments, never could invent So politic an instrument. Prior.