COMITIA, ko-mish'i-a, _n._ the assemblies of the Romans for electing
magistrates, passing laws, &c. [L.,--_com_, together, _[=i]re_, _[=i]tum_,
to go.]
COMITY, kom'i-ti, _n._ courteousness: civility.--COMITY OF NATIONS
(_comitas gentium_), the international courtesy by which effect is given to
the laws of one state within the territory of another state. [L.
_comitas_--_comis_, courteous.]
COMMA, kom'a, _n._ (_Shak._) a short part of a sentence: in punctuation,
the point (,) which marks the smallest division of a sentence: (_fig._) a
brief interval.--INVERTED COMMAS, marks of quotation ("..", '..').
[L.,--Gr. _komma_, a section of a sentence, from _koptein_, to cut off.]
COMMAND, kom-mand', _v.t._ to order: to bid: to exercise supreme authority
over: (_Shak._) to demand: to cause to act: (_Shak._) to exact: to have
within sight, influence, or control.--_v.i._ to have chief authority: to
govern.--_n._ an order: authority: message: the ability to overlook or
influence: the thing commanded.--_ns._ COMMANDANT', an officer who has the
command of a place or of a body of troops, COMMANDANT'SHIP.--_v.t._
COMMANDEER', to compel to military service.--_ns._ COMMAND'ER, one who
commands: an officer in the navy next in rank under a captain;
COMMAND'ER-IN-CHIEF, the highest staff appointment in the British army: the
officer in supreme command of an army, or of the entire forces of the
state; COMMAND'ERSHIP; COMMAND'ERY, the district under a commander,
specially used in connection with the Templars, the Hospitallers, and other
religious orders.--_adj._ COMMAND'ING, fitted to impress or
control.--_adv._ COMMAND'INGLY.--_n._ COMMAND'MENT, a command: a
precept.--COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL, a title of the caliphs.--AT COMMAND,
available for use; ON COMMAND, under orders.--TEN COMMANDMENTS, the ten
Mosaic laws: (_slang_) the ten finger-nails, used by women in fighting.
[Fr. _commander_--L. _commend[=a]re_--_com_, and _mand[=a]re_, to entrust.]
COMMEASURE, kom-mezh'[=u]r, _v.t._ to equal in measure: to coincide
with.--_n._ COMMEAS'URABLE (same as COMMEN'SURABLE).
COMMEMORATE, kom-em'o-r[=a]t, _v.t._ to call to remembrance by a solemn or
public act: to celebrate: to preserve the memory of.--_adj._
COMMEM'ORABLE.--_n._ COMMEMOR[=A]'TION, preserving the memory of some
person or thing by a solemn ceremony: the specification of individual
saints in the prayers for the dead: the great festival of the Oxford
academic year, usually taking place on the third Wednesday after Trinity
Sunday.--_adjs._ COMMEM'ORATIVE, COMMEM'ORATORY, tending or serving to
commemorate.--_n._ COMMEM'ORATOR. [L. _commemoratus_, pa.p. of
_commemor[=a]re_, to remember--_com_, inten., and _memor_, mindful.]
COMMENCE, kom-ens', _v.i._ to begin: to originate: to take rise.--_v.t._ to
begin: to originate: to enter upon: to take a university degree--e.g. 'to
commence M.A.'--_n._ COMMENCE'MENT, the beginning: at certain universities
the act of taking the degrees: the ceremony when these are conferred. [O.
Fr. _comencer_--L. _com_, and _initi[=a]re_, to begin--_in_, into, and
_[=i]re_, to go.]
COMMEND, kom-end', _v.t._ to give into the charge of: to recommend as
worthy: to praise: to adorn, set off.--_n._ (_Shak._) praise.--_adj._
COMMEND'ABLE, worthy of being commended or praised.--_n._
COMMEND'ABLENESS.--_adv._ COMMEND'ABLY.--_ns._ COMMEND'AM, a manner of
holding an ecclesiastical benefice till a proper pastor was provided for
it--it was provisionally _commended_ to the care of a clerk, and was said
to be held _in commendam_; COMMEND[=A]'TION, the act of commending: praise:
declaration of esteem: esp. the act of commending the dying or dead to the
favour and mercy of God; COM'MEND[=A]TOR, one who holds a benefice _in
commendam_.--_adj._ COMMEND'ATORY, commending: containing praise or
commendation: presenting to favourable notice or reception.--COMMEND ME TO,
remember me kindly to: give me by preference. [L. _commend[=a]re_--_com_,
and _mand[=a]re_, to trust.]
COMMENSAL, ko-men'sal, _adj._ eating at the same table.--_n._ a
messmate.--_n._ COMMEN'SALISM, the intimate but never parasitic association
of two organisms, for the benefit of one, or very often of both. [L. _com_,
together, _mensa_, a table.]
COMMENSURABLE, kom-en's[=u]-ra-bl, _adj._ having a common measure.--_ns._
COMMENSURABIL'ITY, COMMEN'SURABLENESS.--_adv._ COMMEN'SURABLY.--_adj._
COMMEN'SUR[=A]TE, of the same measure with: equal in measure or extent: in
proportion with.--_adv._ COMMEN'SUR[=A]TELY.--_ns._ COMMEN'SUR[=A]TENESS,
COMMENSUR[=A]'TION. [L. _com_, with, and _mensura_, a measure--_met[=i]ri_,
_mensus_, to measure.]
COMMENT, kom'ent, _n._ a note conveying an illustration or explanation: a
remark, observation, criticism.--_v.i._ (or kom-ent') to make critical or
explanatory notes: to annotate: (_Shak._) to meditate.--_ns._ COMM'ENTARY,
a comment: a remark: a book consisting of a regular series of comments or
notes on another book; COMMENT[=A]'TION, annotation; COMM'ENT[=A]TOR,
COMM'ENTER (or COMMENT'ER), COMM'ENTOR (or COMMENT'OR).--_adj._
COMMENTAT[=O]'RIAL, pertaining to the making of commentaries. [Fr.,--L.
_comment[=a]ri_--_com_, and L. _mens_, the mind.]
COMMERCE, kom'[.e]rs, _n._ interchange of merchandise on a large scale
between nations or individuals: extended trade or traffic: intercourse:
fellowship.--_v.i._ COMMERCE', to trade: to have communication
with.--_adj._ COMMER'CIAL, pertaining to commerce: mercantile.--_n._
commercial traveller.--_ns._ COMMER'CIALISM; COMMER'CIALIST;
COMMER'CIALITY.--_adv._ COMMER'CIALLY.--COMMERCIAL ROOM, a room in a hotel
set apart for commercial travellers; COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER, a person who
transacts business as the accredited travelling representative of a trading
house to other trading houses. [Fr.,--L. _commercium_--_com_, with, _merx_,
_mercis_, merchandise.]
COMMERGE, ko-m[.e]rj', _v.i._ to coincide, agree.
COMMINATE, kom'in-[=a]t, _v.t._ to threaten.--_n._ COMMIN[=A]'TION,
threatening, denunciation: a recital of God's threatenings made on
Ash-Wednesday and at other times in the English Church.--_adjs._
COMM'INATIVE, COMM'INATORY, threatening punishment. [L.,--_com_, inten.,
and _min[=a]ri_, to threaten.]
COMMINGLE, kom-ing'gl, _v.t._ to mingle or mix with.--_adj._ COMMIN'GLED.
[L. _com_, together, and MINGLE.]
COMMINUTE, kom'in-[=u]t, _v.t._ to reduce to minute particles: to
pulverise.--_n._ COMMIN[=U]'TION.--COMMINUTED FRACTURE, the breaking of a
bone in several places: a compound fracture. [L. _comminu[)e]re_,
_-[=u]tum_, to break into pieces--_com_, and _minu[)e]re_, to make
small--root _minus_, less.]
COMMISERATE, kom-iz'[.e]r-[=a]t, _v.t._ to feel for the miseries of
another: to pity: to condole with.--_adj._ COMMIS'ERABLE, requiring
commiseration: pitiable.--_n._ COMMISER[=A]'TION, concern for the
sufferings of others: pity.--_adj._ COMMIS'ERATIVE, feeling or expressing
sympathetic sorrow.--_n._ COMMIS'ER[=A]TOR. [L. _com_, with, _miser[=a]ri_,
to deplore--_miser_, wretched.]
COMMISSARY, kom'is-ar-i, _n._ one to whom any charge is committed: a
deputy: (_Scots law_) the judge in a commissary court: a higher officer of
police: (_eccles._) an officer representing a bishop, and performing his
duties in distant parts of the diocese: an officer who furnishes
provisions, &c., to an army.--_adj._ COMMISS[=A]'RIAL, pertaining to a
commissary.--_ns._ COMMISS[=A]'RIAT, the department charged with the
furnishing of provisions, as for an army: the supply of provisions: the
office of a commissary; COMM'ISSARY-GEN'ERAL, the head of the department
for supplying provisions, &c., to an army; COMM'ISSARYSHIP.--COMMISSARY
COURT, a supreme court established in Edinburgh in 1563, with jurisdiction
in questions of marriage--its powers conjoined with those of the Court of
Session in 1836. [Low L. _commissarius_--L. _committ[)e]re_, _commissum_.]
COMMISSION, kom-ish'un, _n._ act of committing: that which is committed: a
writing conferring certain powers: authority: the percentage paid in a
transaction to an active agent who usually incurs some pecuniary and always
some moral responsibility: a body of persons appointed to perform certain
duties: a warrant from the head of the state for holding various military
offices, whether combatant or non-combatant.--_v.t._ to give a commission
to: to empower: to send: to appoint.--_ns._ COMMIS'SION-AG'ENT,
COMMIS'SION-MER'CHANT, a person employed to sell goods delivered to him by
another (his principal), for a certain percentage--his _commission_ or
factorage; COMMISSIONAIRE', a messenger, or light porter: one employed
about public places and hotels to undertake light commissions.--_adj._
COMMIS'SIONED.--_ns._ COMMIS'SIONER, one who holds a commission to perform
some business: a member of a commission; COMMIS'SIONERSHIP.--COMMISSIONED
OFFICER, one appointed by commission--in the navy, the officers from the
lieutenant; in the army, from the ensign upwards. [From COMMIT.]
COMMISSURE, kom'mis-s[=u]r, _n._ a joint: place where two bodies meet and
unite: (_anat._) a term applied to nervous connections between adjacent
parts of the nervous system.--_adj._ COMMIS'SURAL. [L., _commissura_, a
joining, from root of COMMIT.]
COMMIT, kom-it', _v.t._ to give in charge or trust: to consign: to do: to
endanger: to involve: to pledge:--_pr.p._ commit'ting; _pa.p._
commit'ted.--_ns._ COMMIT'MENT, act of committing: an order for sending to
prison: imprisonment; COMMIT'TAL, commitment: a pledge, actual or implied;
COMMIT'TEE, a portion, generally consisting of not less than three members,
selected from a more numerous body, to whom some special act to be
performed, or investigation to be made, is committed;
COMMIT'TEESHIP.--COMMIT ONE'S SELF, to compromise one's self: to pledge
one's self wittingly or unwittingly to a certain course; COMMIT TO MEMORY,
to learn by heart. [L. _committ[)e]re_--_com_, with, _mitt[)e]re_, to
send.]
COMMIX, kom-iks', _v.t._ to mix together.--_v.i._ to mix.--_ns._
COMMIX'TION, COMMIX'TURE, act of mixing together: the state of being mixed:
the compound formed by mixing: the rite of putting a piece of the host into
the chalice, emblematic of the reunion of body and soul at the
Resurrection.
COMMODIOUS, kom-[=o]'di-us, _adj._ suitable or convenient: roomy, spacious:
(_Shak._) serviceable: comfortable.--_n._ COMMODE', a small sideboard: a
large, high head-dress formerly worn by ladies: a box for holding a chamber
utensil: a night-stool.--_adv._ COMM[=O]'DIOUSLY.--_ns._
COMM[=O]'DIOUSNESS; COMMOD'ITY, convenience: (_Shak._) profit: (_Shak._)
parcel: an article of traffic: (_pl._) goods, produce. [L.
_commodus_--_com_, with, _modus_, measure.]
COMMODORE, kom'o-d[=o]r, _n._ in the royal navy, a rank intermediate
between an admiral and a captain: the leading ship in a fleet of
merchantmen: the president of a yacht-club, also his vessel at a regatta.
[Perh. from Dut. _kommandeur_.]
COMMON, kom'un, _adj._ belonging equally to more than one: public: general:
usual: frequent: ordinary: easy to be had: of little value: vulgar: of low
degree.--_n._ (_Shak._) the commonalty: a tract of open land, used in
common by the inhabitants of a town, parish, &c.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to
share.--_adj._ COMMON'ABLE, held in common.--_ns._ COMM'ONAGE, right of
pasturing on a common: the right of using anything in common: a common;
COMM'ONALTY, the general body of the people without any distinction of rank
or authority; COMM'ONER, one of the common people, as opposed to the
nobles: a member of the House of Commons: at Oxford, a student who pays for
his commons.--_adv._ COMM'ONLY.--_ns._ COMM'ONNESS; COMM'ONPLACE, a common
topic or subject: a platitude: a memorandum: a note.--_adj._ common:
hackneyed.--_v.i._ to make notes: to put in a commonplace-book.--_n._
COMM'ONPLACE-BOOK, a note or memorandum book.--_n.pl._ COMM'ONS, the common
people: their representatives--i.e. the lower House of Parliament or HOUSE
OF COMMONS: common land: food at a common table: at Oxford, rations served
at a fixed rate from the college buttery: food in general, rations.--_n._
COMM'ON-SENSE, average understanding: good sense or practical sagacity: the
opinion of a community: the universally admitted impressions of
mankind.--COMMON BENCH, COMMON PLEAS, one of the divisions of the High
Court of Justice; COMMON FORMS, the ordinary clauses which are of frequent
occurrence in identical terms in writs and deeds; COMMON LAW, in England,
the ancient customary law of the land; COMMON PRAYER (BOOK OF), the liturgy
of the Church of England; COMMON-RIDING, the Scotch equivalent of BEATING
THE BOUNDS (see BEAT); COMMON ROOM, in schools, colleges, &c., a room to
which the members have common access.--IN COMMON, together: equally with
others.--MAKE COMMON CAUSE WITH, to cast in one's lot with: to have the
same interests and aims with.--PHILOSOPHY OF COMMON-SENSE, that school of
philosophy which takes the universally admitted impressions of mankind as
corresponding to the facts of things without any further scrutiny.--SHORT
COMMONS, scant fare, insufficient supply of rations.--THE COMMON, that
which is common or usual; THE COMMON GOOD, the interest of the community at
large: the corporate property of a burgh in Scotland; THE COMMON PEOPLE,
the people in general. [Fr. _commun_--L. _communis_, prob. from _com_,
together, and _munis_, serving, obliging.]
COMMONWEAL, kom'un-w[=e]l, COMMONWEALTH, kom'un-welth, _n._ the common or
public good: the government in a free state: the public or whole body of
the people: a form of government in which the power rests with the people,
esp. that in England after the overthrow of Charles I. [See WEALTH.]
COMMOVE, kom-m[=oo]v', _v.t._ to put in motion: to agitate: to disturb,
excite.--_n._ COMM[=O]'TION, a violent motion or moving: excited or
tumultuous action, physical or mental: agitation: tumult. [L. _com_,
inten., and _mov[=e]re_, _motum_, to move.]
COMMUNE, kom'[=u]n, _n._ a corporation: in France, a territorial division
governed by a mayor.--The COMMUNE at Paris in 1871 was a revolt against the
national government, the principle of the revolt being that each city or
district should be ruled independently by its own commune or local
government.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'NAL (also COMM'UNAL).--_ns._
COMMUNALIS[=A]'TION; COMM[=U]'NALISM; COMM[=U]'NALIST. [Fr. _commune_. See
COMMON.]
COMMUNE, kom-[=u]n', _v.i._ to converse or talk together: to have
intercourse: to receive Holy Communion.--_ns._ COMM'UNE, converse: talk;
COMMUN'ING, conversing: communion. [O. Fr. _comuner_, to share--_comun_,
common.]
COMMUNICATE, kom-[=u]'ni-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to give a share of, impart: to
reveal: to bestow.--_v.i._ to have something in common with another: to
have communication: to have intercourse: to partake of Holy
Communion.--_ns._ COMMUNICABIL'ITY, COMM[=U]'NICABLENESS, the state of
being communicable.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'NICABLE, that may be communicated:
affable.--_adv._ COMM[=U]'NICABLY.--_ns._ COMM[=U]'NICANT, one who partakes
of Holy Communion; COMMUNIC[=A]'TION, act of communicating: that which is
communicated: intercourse: correspondence: a means of communicating, a
connecting passage or channel.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'NICATIVE, inclined to
communicate or give information: unreserved.--_adv._
COMM[=U]'NICATIVELY.--_n._ COMM[=U]'NICATIVENESS, the quality of being
communicative.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'NICATORY, imparting knowledge. [L.
_communic[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, from _communis_.]
COMMUNION, kom-[=u]n'yun, _n._ act of communing: mutual intercourse:
fellowship: common possession: interchange of transactions: union in
religious service: the body of people who so unite.--_n._ COMMUN'IONIST, a
communicant.--THE COMMUNION, HOLY COMMUNION, the celebration of the Lord's
Supper. [L. _communion-em_, from _communis_.]
COMMUNISM, kom'[=u]-nizm, _n._ a theory or condition of things according to
which private property should be abolished, and all things held in
common.--_n._ COMM'UNIST, one who holds such principles.--_adj._
COMMUNIST'IC, pertaining to communism.
COMMUNITY, kom-[=u]n'i-ti, _n._ common possession or enjoyment: agreement:
communion: (_Shak._) commonness: people having common rights, &c.: the
public in general: a body of persons in the same locality, e.g. 'village
community:' a monastic body.--_n._ COMMUNIT[=A]'RIAN, a member of a
community. [O. Fr.,--L. _communitas_--_communis_.]
COMMUTE, kom-[=u]t', _v.t._ to exchange: to exchange a punishment for one
less severe.--_n._ COMMUTABIL'ITY.--_adj._ COMMUT'ABLE, that may be
commuted or exchanged.--_n._ COMMUT[=A]'TION, the act of commuting: change
or exchange of one thing for another: the change of a penalty or rate from
a greater to a less.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'TATIVE (or COMM'), relating to
exchange: interchangeable.--_adv._ COMM[=U]'TATIVELY.--_n._ COMM'UT[=A]TOR,
an apparatus attached to many electric machines for reversing the
currents.--_adj._ COMMUT'UAL, mutual. [L. _commut[=a]re_--_com_, with
_mut[=a]re_, to change.]