Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Co-mī'tial, a. p. 255Relating to the comitia, or popular assemblies of the Romans for electing officers and passing laws. Middleton. 2. Of, or pertaining to, assemblies of the people.Cŏm'i-ty, n. p. 255Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy between equals; the extension of civility to individuals or communities; civility; good-breeding; as, comity of manners; the comity of States. Syn.—Civility…Cŏm'mă, n. p. 255(Punct.) A character or point (,) marking the smallest division of a sentence in language, either written or printed, and the shortest pause in reading. 2. (Mus.) A small interval, theoretical rather…Com-mȧnd', v. t. p. 255To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to summon. Go to your mistress, Say I command her come to me. Shak. Agricola, therefore, commanded home for doing too much of what…Com-mȧnd', v. i. p. 255To have or to exercise supreme authority; to possess the chief power; to govern.Com-mȧnd', n. p. 255An authoritative order; mandate; injunction. Warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose. Milton. 2. The application or exercise of authority.…Com-mȧnd'a-ble, a. p. 255Capable of being commanded.Côm'man-dânt', n. p. 255A commander; a commanding officer of a place, or of a body of forces. Smollett.Com-mand'a-to-ry, a. p. 255Having the force of a command; as, commandatory authority. [Obs.] Morton.Com-mānd'er, n. p. 255A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it. Who sees an army all in rank advance, But deems a wise commander is in place, Which leadeth…Com-mänd'er-ship, n. p. 255The office of a commander.Com-mānd'er-y or Com-mānd'ry, n. p. 255A manor with lands and tenements appertaining thereto, belonging to an order of knights, and under the control of a member of the order, who was called a commander; he could dispose of the manor and…Com-mănd'ing, a. p. 255Fitted to impress or control. Syn.—Authoritative; imperative; imperious.Com-mánd'ing-ly, adv. p. 255In a commanding manner.Com-mānd'ment, n. p. 255An order or injunction given by authority; charge; precept. Seeing, then, that God alone is Lord of the soul and spirit, he alone can bind them by commandment. Mede. 2. (Script.) One of the ten laws…Com-mānd'ress, n. p. 255A woman invested with supreme authority. Hooker.Cōm'märk, n. p. 255The frontier of a country; confines. [Obs.] Shelton.Cŏm/ma-tē'ri-al, a. p. 255Consisting of the same matter with another thing. [Obs.] Bacon.Cōm'ma-tē'ri-ăl'i-ty, n. p. 255Participation of the same matter. [Obs.] Johnson.Com-măt'ic, a. p. 255Having short clauses or sentences; brief; concise.Cŏm'ma-tĭsm, n. p. 255Briefness; conciseness in writing. Bp. Horsley.Com-mēn'sur-a-ble, a. p. 255Having the same measure, or reducible to the same measure; commensurate. She being now removed by death, a commensurable grief took as full possession of him as joy had done. Walton.Com-mĕm'o-ra-ble, a. p. 255Worthy to be commemorated.Com-mĕm'o-rāte, v. t. p. 255To call to remembrance by a solemn act; to celebrate with honor and solemnity; to honor, as a person or event, by some act of respect or affection, intended to preserve the remembrance of that person…Com-mĕm'o-rā'tion, n. p. 255The act of calling to remembrance by some solemnity; the act of honoring the memory of some person or event by solemn celebration. “The elements which Christ had appointed as a commemoration of his…Com-mēm'o-ra-tive, a. p. 256Tending to preserve in remembrance. “A sacrifice commemorative of Christ’s offering up his body for us.” Hammond.Com-mēm'o-rā'tor, n. p. 256One who commemorates.Com-mēm'o-ra-to-ry, a. p. 256Serving to commemorate; commemorative. Hooper.Com-mĕnçe', v. i. p. 256To have a first existence or origin; to begin; to originate. “That state that is to commence after this life.” Rogers. 2. To take the first degree in a university or college. I question whether the…Com-mēnçe′, v. t. p. 256To enter upon; to begin; to originate. Many a wooer doth commence his suit To her he thinks not worthy; yet he wooes. Shak. 2. To begin to be or to appear; to begin to act in the capacity of. When we…Com-mĕnçe'ment, n. p. 256The first existence of any thing; rise; origin; beginning. The time of Henry VII. . . . nearly coincides with the commencement of what is termed “modern history.” Hallam. 2. The day when degrees are…Com-mĕnd′, v. t. p. 256To commit, intrust, or give in charge for care or preservation. To thee I do commend my watchful soul, Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes. Shak. I commend unto you Phebe, our sister. Rom. xvi.…Com-mĕnd', n. p. 256Commendation. [Obs.] “Speak in his just commend.” Shak.Com-mĕnd'a-ble, a. p. 256(Formerly accented on the first syllable.) [Pr. & O. Sp. commendable, It. commendabile, Lat. commendabilis.] Capable or worthy of being commended or praised; deserving of approbation or praise…Com-mēnd'a-ble-ness, n. p. 256State of being commendable.Com-mĕnd'a-bly, adv. p. 256In a commendable or praiseworthy manner.Com-mēn'dam, n. p. 256(Eccl. Law.) 1. A vacant living or benefice committed to the care of the holder until a proper pastor is supplied. There was some sense for commendams; at first, when there was a living void, and…Com-mēnd'a-ta-ry, n. p. 256One who holds a living in commendam.Cŏm'men-dā'tion, n. p. 256The act of commending; praise; favorable representation in words; declaration of esteem. Need we, as some others, epistles of commendation? 2 Cor. iii. 1. The choice of them should be by the…Com-mĕnd'a-tor, n. p. 256One who holds a benefice in commendam. Chalmers.Com-mĕnd'a-to-ry, a. p. 256Serving to commend; presenting to favorable notice or reception. “Commendatory verses.” Pope. 2. Holding a benefice in commendam; as, a commendatory bishop. Burke.Com-mĕnd'a-to-ry, n. p. 256A commendation; eulogy. “Commendatories to our affection.” Sharp. “Commendatories of Antony, or . . . panegyrics upon Catiline.” South.Com-mĕnd'er, n. p. 256One who commends or praises.Com-mĕn'sal, n. p. 256One who eats at the same table. [Obs.] Chaucer.Cŏm'men-săl'i-ty, n. p. 256Fellowship at table; the act or practice of eating at the same table. [Obs.] “Promiscuous commensality.” Browne.Cŏm'men-sā'tion, n. p. 256The act of eating at the same table. [Obs.] “Pagan commensation.” Browne.Com-mĕn'su-ra-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 256The capacity of being measured by another, or of having a common measure. “A comely commensurability of the whole unto the parts.” Browne.Com-mĕn'su-ra-ble, a. p. 256Having a common measure; capable of being measured by the same number or quantity. Commensurable numbers, or quantities (Math.), those which can be exactly expressed by some common unit; thus a foot…Com-mĕn'su-ra-ble-ness, n. p. 256Commensurability.Com-mĕn'su-ra-bly, adv. p. 256In a commensurable manner.Com-mĕn'su-rate, a. p. 256Having a common measure; commensurable; as, commensurate quantities. 2. Equal in measure or extent; proportional. Those who are persuaded that they shall continue forever, can not choose but aspire…Com-mĕn'su-rāte, v. t. p. 256To reduce to a common measure. Browne.Com-mĕn'su-rate-ly, adv. p. 256In a commensurate manner. Holder. 2. With equal measure or extent. Goodwin.Com-mĕn'su-rate-ness, n. p. 256Quality of being commensurate. Foster.Com-mĕn'su-rā'tion, n. p. 256The state of being commensurate, or of having a common measure. All fitness lies in a particular commensuration, or proportion of one thing to another. South.Cŏm'ment, v. i. p. 256To 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…Cŏm'ment, v. t. p. 256To explain; to expound. Fuller. 2. To feign; to devise. [Obs.] Spenser.Cŏm'ment, n. p. 256A 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…Cŏm'men-ta-ry, n. p. 256A series or collection of comments or annotations; especially a book of explanations or expositions on the work of any author. This letter . . . was published by him with a severe commentary. Hallam.…Cŏm'men-ta-ry, v. t. p. 256To write comments or notes upon. [Rare.]