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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Com-mōd'i-ty, n. p. 257Convenience; accommodation; profit; advantage; interest; commodiousness. [Obs.] Men may seek their own commodity, yet if this were done with injury to others, it was not to be suffered. Hooker. 2.…Cŏm'mo-dōre',, n. p. 257The officer who commands a squadron or detachment of ships destined on a particular enterprise. 2. (Eng. Marine.) A naval officer having the temporary rank of rear admiral. Brundle. 3. The senior…Com-mŏd'ū-lā'tion, n. p. 258Measure; agreement. [Obs.] Hakewill.Cōm'moigne, n. p. 258A monk of the same convent. [Obs.] Selden.Cŏm'mon, a. p. 258Belonging equally to more than one, or to many indefinitely; belonging to the public or to all mankind; serving for the use of all; general. “Such actions as the common good requireth.” Hooker. “The…Cŏm'mon, n. p. 258An uninclosed tract of ground, the use of which is not appropriated to an individual, but belongs to the public, or to a number; sometimes applied also to an inclosed tract of public ground. Then…Cŏm'mon, v. i. p. 258To converse together; to discourse; to confer. [Obs.] Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were communed of. Grafton. 2. To have a joint right with others in common…Côm'mon, adv. p. 258Commonly. [Rare.] Shak.Cŏm'mon-a-ble, a. p. 258Held in common. Bacon. 2. Allowed to pasture on common land. Commonable beasts are either beasts of the plow, or such as manure the ground. Blackstone.Cŏm'mon-age, n. p. 258The right of pasturing on a common; the joint right of using any thing in common with others. “The claim of commonage which the people had in most of the forests.” Burke.Com'mon-al-ty, n. p. 258The common people; those classes and conditions of people who are below the rank of nobility; the commons. The commonalty, like the nobility, are divided into several degrees. Blackstone. The ancient…Cŏm'mon-er, n. p. 258One of the common people; one under the degree of nobility. All below them [the peers] even their children, were commoners, and in the eye of the law equal to each other. Hallam. 2. A member of the…