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.
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…Cŏm'mo-nĭ'tion, n. p. 258Advice; warning; instruction. [Obs.] Bailey.Com-mŏn'i-tive, a. p. 258Monitory. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Com-mŏn'i-to-ry, a. p. 258Calling to mind; giving admonition. [Obs.] Foxe.Cŏm'mon-ly, adv. p. 258Usually; generally; ordinarily; frequently; for the most part; as, confirmed habits commonly continue through life. 2. In common; familiarly. [Obs.] “As commonly as friend does with his friend.”…Cŏm'mon-ness, n. p. 258Frequent occurrence; a state of being common or usual. 2. Equal participation by two or more. [Rare.]Cŏm'mon-plāçe, a. p. 258Common; trite; not new or extraordinary.Cŏm'mon-plāçe, n. p. 258(Rhet.) A general idea applicable to different subjects; a topic common to two or more subjects. Blair. 2. A trite or customary remark.Cŏm'mon-plāçe, v. t. p. 258To enter in a commonplace-book, or to reduce to general heads. Felton.Cŏm'mon-plāçe'-bo͝ok, n. p. 258A book in which things to be remembered are recorded.Cŏm'mon-plāçe'ness, n. p. 258The quality of being commonplace.Cŏm'mons, n. pl. p. 258The mass of the people, as distinguished from the titled classes or nobility; the commonalty. ’Tis like, the commons, rude, unpolished hinds, Could send such message to their sovereign. Shak. 2. The…Com-mŏn'strāte, v. t. p. 258To teach. [Obs.]Cŏm'mon-ty, n. p. 258(Scots Law.) Land belonging to two or more common proprietors, or a heath or muir, of which there has been a promiscuous possession by pasturage.Còm'mon-ty, n. p. 258A comedy. [Obs.] Is not a community a Christmas gambol? Shak.Cŏm'mon-wēal' or Cŏm'mon-wēalth', n. p. 258An established form of government, or civil polity, or, more generally, a state; a body politic, consisting of a certain number of men, united, by compact or tacit agreement, under one form of…Cŏm'mon-wĕalth's'-man, n. p. 258One who favored the order of polity established on the death of Charles I. by Oliver Cromwell and his coadjutors.Cōm'mo-rance or Cōm'mo-ran-cy, n. p. 258A dwelling or ordinary residence in a place; abode; habitation. Commorancy consists in usually lying there. Blackstone. 2. (Am. Law.) Residence temporarily, or for a short time.Cŏm'mo-rant, a. p. 258(Law.) Dwelling; ordinarily residing; inhabiting. All freeholders within the precinct . . . and all persons commorant therein . . . are obliged to attend the court leet. Blackstone. 2. (Am. Law.)…Cŏm'mo-rā'tion, n. p. 258The act of staying or residing. [Obs.] Cock'eram.Com-mō'ri-ent, a. p. 258Dying at the same time. [Obs.] “Commorient fates and times.” Sir G. Buck.Com-môrse', n. p. 258Remorse. [Obs.] “Sad commorse.” Daniel.Cŏm'mōth-er, n. p. 258A godmother. [Rare.] Cotgrave.Com-mō'tion, n. p. 258Disturbed or violent motion; agitation. 2. A popular tumult; civil or public disturbance or disorder. When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified. Luke xxi. 9. 3. Agitation…