Cŏm'mis-sa-ry, n.

n. [Fr. commissaire, Pr. commissari, comessari, It. commissario, commessario, Sp. comisario, Pg. commissario, L. Lat. commissarius, from committere, commissus, to commit, to intrust to, from com, for con, and mittere, to send.]

1Sense 1. One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a superior power; a commissioner.

2Sense 2. (Eccl.) An officer of the bishop, who exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction in parts of the diocese at a distance from the residence of the bishop. Ayliffe.

3Sense 3. (Mil.) (a.) An officer having charge of a special department; as, the commissary-general of musters, who musters the army, inspects the muster-rolls, and keeps an account of the strength of the forces; the commissary of horse, who has the inspection of the horse-artillery. [Eng.] (b.) The officer whose business it is to provide food for the army; —called also 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.