Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.]Cŏm'men-tāte, v. t. p. 256To make comments; to write notes upon. [Rare.]Cŏm'men-tā'tion, n. p. 256The act or process of commenting or criticising; exposition; illustration. The spirit of commentation turns to questions of taste, of metaphysics, of morals, with far more avidity than to physics.…Cŏm'men-tā'tor, n. p. 256One who comments; one who writes annotations; an expositor; an annotator. The commentator's professed object is to explain, to enforce, to illustrate doctrines claimed as true. Whewell.Cŏm'men-ta-tō'ri-al, a. p. 256Pertaining to the making of commentaries. “The commentatorial spirit of the middle ages.” Whewell.Cŏm'men-tā'tor-shīp, n. p. 256The office of a commentator.Cŏm'ment-er, n. p. 256One who comments; one who writes comments; an annotator.Com'men-tī'tious, a. p. 256Fictitious or imaginary; unreal; as, a commentitious system of religion. [Rare.] Warburton.Cŏm'merce, n. p. 256(Formerly accented on the second syllable.) [Fr. commerce, It. & Pg. commercio, Sp. comercio, Lat. commercium, from com and merx, mercis, merchandise, whence mercari, to trade.] 1. The exchange of…Com-mérçe', v. i. p. 256To carry on trade; to traffic. [Obs.] Beware you commerce not with bankrupts. B. Jonson. 2. To hold intercourse with. Musicians . . . taught the souls of the people in angelic harmonies to commerce…Com-mēr'cial, a. p. 256Pertaining to commerce; carrying on commerce or trade; mercantile; as, commercial advantages; commercial relations. “Princely commercial houses, of which the names are held in honor throughout the…Com-mêr'cial-ly, adv. p. 256In a commercial manner or view. Burke.Com-mēr'ci-āte, v. i. p. 256To have intercourse; to associate. [Obs.] “To commer ciate with other animals and inanimate natures.” Cheyne.Commère, n. p. 256A gossip or goody; a godmother. Smart.Cŏm'mi-grāte, v. i. p. 256To migrate together; to move in a body from one country or place to another, for permanent residence. [Rare.]Cŏm'mi-grā'tion, n. p. 256The moving of a body of people from one country or place to another, with a view to a permanent residence. [Rare.] Woodward.Cŏm/mi-nā'tion, n. p. 256A threat or threatening; a denunciation of punishment or vengeance. “With terrible comminations to all them that did resist.” Foxe. Those thunders of commination, which not unfrequently roll from…Com-mĭn'a-to-ry, a. p. 256Threatening or denouncing punishment. B. Jonson.Com-mĭn'gle, v. t. p. 256To mingle together; to mix in one mass, or intimately; to blend.Com-mĭn'gle, v. i. p. 256To mix or unite together; to become blended. Bacon.Com-mĭn'ū-āte, v. t. p. 256To grind. [Obs.] See COMMINUTE.Com-min'ū-i-ble, a. p. 256Capable of being reduced to powder. [Obs.] Browne.Cŏm′mi-nūte, v. t. p. 256To make small or fine; to reduce to minute particles, or to a fine powder, by breaking, pounding, rasping, grinding, or the like; to pulverize; to triturate; to grind; as, to comminute food with the…cŏm'mi-nū'tion, n. p. 256The act of reducing to a fine powder or to small particles; pulverization. This smiting of the steel with the flint doth only make a comminution and a very rapid whirling and melting of some…Com-mis'er-a-ble, a. p. 257Deserving of commiseration or pity; pitiable. [Rare.] “The end . . . of this noble and commiserable person.” Bacon.Com-mĭs'er-âte, v. t. p. 257To feel sorrow, pain, or regret for; to be sorry for. Then must we those who groan beneath the weight Of age, disease, or want, commiserate. Denham. We should commiserate our ignorance, and endeavor…Com·mis'er-ā'tion, n. p. 257The act of commiserating; sorrow for the wants, afflictions, or distresses of another; pity. Melmoth. Syn.—See SYMPATHY.Com·mis'er·a·tive, a. p. 257Feeling or expressing commiseration. Todd.Com-mis'-er-a-tive-ly, adv. p. 257With compassion.Com-mis'er-ā'tor, n. p. 257One who pities. Browne.Cŏm'mis-sā'ri-al, a. p. 257Pertaining to a commissary. [Written also commissorial.]Cŏm'mis-sā'ri-at, n. p. 257(Mil.) (a.) That department of the service which is charged with the supply of provisions for the soldiers. (b.) The whole body of officers in that department. (c.) The office of a commissary…Cŏm'mis-sa-ry, n. p. 257One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a superior power; a commissioner. 2. (Eccl.) An officer of the bishop, who exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction in parts of the diocese at a…Cŏm'mis-sa-ry-gĕn'er-al, n. p. 257The head of the commissary department, or department of an army for supplying provisions, &c.Cŏm'mis-sa-ry-ship, n. p. 257The office or employment of commissary. Ayliffe.Com·mis'sion, n. p. 257The act of committing, doing, or performing;—usually in a bad sense; the act of perpetrating. Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness. South. 2. A formal act of…Com-mis'sion, v. t. p. 257To give a commission to; to furnish with a commission; to empower or authorize; as, a commissioned officer. 2. To send with a mandate or authority. A chosen band He first commissions to the Latins…Com-mis'sion-al, a. p. 257Appointed by warrant.Com-mis'sion-a-ry p. 257“Delegate on commissionary authority.” Bp. Hall.Com-mis'sion-āte, v. t. p. 257To give authority to; to commission. [Obs.] “Prophets particularly called and commissioned.” Hammond.Com-mis'sion-er, n. p. 257A person who has a commission or warrant from proper authority to perform some office, or execute some business, for the person or government which employs him; as, commissioners for settling the…Com-mis'sion-mēr'chant, n. p. 257A merchant who transacts business on commission, as the agent of others, receiving a rate per cent. as his commission or reward.Com-mis'sion-ship, n. p. 257The office of commissioner. He got his commissionship in the great contest for the county. W. Scott.