Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Com-mis'sive, a. p. 257Actually performed; committing.Com-mis'su-ral, a. p. 257Of, or pertaining to, a commissure. Carpenter.Com'mis-sūre, n. p. 257(Arch.) The application of the surface of one stone to that of another. Gwilt. 2. A joint, seam, or closure; the place where two bodies, or parts of a body, meet and unite; an interstice or cleft…Com-mit′, v. t. p. 257To give in trust; to put into charge or keeping; to intrust; to deposit. Bid him farewell, commit him to the grave. Shak. Some of the chief malcontents were committed to prison. Macaulay. 2. To do…Com-mit’,, v. i. p. 257To be guilty of incontinence. Commit not with man’s sworn spouse. Shak.Com-mit'ment, n. p. 257The act of committing, or putting in charge, keeping, or trust; particularly the act of committing to prison. They were glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower, whence he was within few…Com·mit'tal, n. p. 257The act of committing. 2. A pledge, actual or implied.Com-mit'tee, n. p. 257One or more persons elected or appointed, to whom any matter or business is referred, either by a legislative body, or by a court, or by any collective body of men acting together. ☞ A legislative…Còm'mit-tee', n. p. 257(Law.) One to whom the charge of the person or estate of another, as of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian.Com-mit'tee-ship, n. p. 257The office of a committee.Com-mit'ter, n. p. 257One who commits; one who does or perpetrates. South.Com-mit'ti-ble, a. p. 257Capable of being committed; liable to be committed. [Rare.] Browne.Com-mix', v. t. p. 257To mix or mingle; to blend; to mix, as different substances. The commixed impressions of all the colors do stir up and beget a sensation of white. Newton.Com-mĭx', v. i. p. 257To mix; to mingle; to blend. The smile mocking the sigh, that it would fly From so divine a temple to commix With winds that sailors rail at. Shak.Com·mix′ion, n. p. 257Commixture. [Obs.] Shak.Com-mix'tion, n. p. 257A blending of different ingredients in one mass or compound; mixture. “The want of an exact commixtion of the ingredients.” Boyle.Com-mix't/ūre, n. p. 257The act of mixing; the state of being mingled; the blending of ingredients in one mass or compound. In the commixture of any thing that is more oily or sweet, such bodies are least apt to putrefy.…Com′mo-date, n. p. 257(Scots Law.) A gratuitous loan.Com-mōde', n. p. 257A kind of head-dress formerly worn by ladies, which, by means of a frame of wire-work, raised the hair and fore part of the cap to a great height. “She . . . under high commodes . . . in gaudy colors…Com-mō'di-oŭs, a. p. 257Adapted to its use or purpose, or to wants and necessities; convenient; suitable; fit; as, a commodious house or room. “Wine and many things else commodious for mankind.” Raleigh. Syn.—Convenient…Com-mō'di-ous-ly, adv. p. 257In a commodious manner; suitably.Com-mō'di-ous-ness, n. p. 257Adaptation or suitableness for its purpose; convenience; fitness. “The commodiousness of the harbor.” Johnson.