commend

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English commenden, from Old French comender, from Latin commendō (“commend, entrust to, commit, recommend”), from com- + mandare (“to commit, intrust, enjoin”), from manus (“hand”) + dare (“to put”). Doublet of command.

PronunciationEdit

IPA^(key): /kəˈmɛnd/
Audio (US)
(file)
Rhymes: -ɛnd

VerbEdit

commend (third-person singular simple present commends, present participle commending, simple past and past participle commended)

(transitive) To congratulate or reward.
The schoolboy was commended for raising the alarm about the burning building.
(transitive) To praise or acclaim.
- 1697, “[Dedication of the Æneis]”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], OCLC 403869432, page [166]:
  
  Segrais on this Subject of a Heroe's ſhedding Tears, obſerves that Hiſtorians commend Alexander for weeping, when he read the mighty Actions of Achilles.
(transitive) To entrust or commit to the care of someone else.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Luke 23:46:
  
  Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
(transitive) To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and goodwill.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene iii]:
  Commend me to my brother.
(transitive) To recommend.
- 1677, Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature
  Among the objects of knowledge, two especially […] commend themselves to our contemplation.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Romans 16:1:
  
  I commend vnto you Phebe our sister, which is a seruant of the Church which is at Cenchrea:
(transitive, dated) To adorn; to set off.

Related termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

to congratulate or reward

Bulgarian: поздравявам (bg) (pozdravjavam)
Esperanto: gratuli (eo)
Finnish: onnitella (fi)
French: féliciter (fr)
Galician: felicitar, congratular (gl)
German: belobigen (de), beglückwünschen (de)

Italian: encomiare (it)
Persian: تقدیر کردن‎ (taqdir kardan)
Portuguese: parabenizar (pt), recompensar (pt)
Romanian: felicita (ro)
Russian: поздравлять (ru) impf (pozdravljatʹ)

to praise

Bulgarian: хваля (bg) (hvalja), препоръчвам (bg) (preporǎčvam)
Dutch: prijzen (nl)
Esperanto: laŭdi
Finnish: ylistää (fi), kiitellä (fi)
French: féliciter (fr)
Friulian: laudâ
Galician: loar (gl), eloxiar
German: loben (de)

Hungarian: dicsér (hu), megdicsér (hu)
Italian: elogiare (it), lodare (it)
Middle English: enhauncen, commenden
Portuguese: agradecer (pt)
Romanian: lăuda (ro), elogia (ro)
Russian: хвалить (ru) impf (xvalitʹ)
Tocharian A: päl-
Tocharian B: päl-
Telugu: మెచ్చుకొను (te) (meccukonu)

to entrust

Bulgarian: поверявам (bg) (poverjavam)
Esperanto: konfidi (eo)
Finnish: antaa huostaan, antaa huomaan
French: recommander (fr)
German: anvertrauen (de), vertrauensvoll überlassen, betrauen mit (de), anbefehlen (de), anempfehlen
Hungarian: ajánl (hu), beajánl (hu), bíz (hu), rábíz (hu)

Italian: affidare (it), raccomandare (it)
Latin: commendō
Middle English: commenden, recommenden
Persian: سپردن‎ (fa) (sepordan)
Portuguese: recomendar (pt)
Romanian: recomanda (ro)
Russian: предава́ть (ru) (predavátʹ), вверять (ru) impf (vverjatʹ)

NounEdit

commend (plural commends)

(obsolete) Commendation; praise.
- c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […]‎^[1], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon, […], published 1609, OCLC 78596089, [Act II, scene ii]:
  He had need meane better, then his outward ſhew
  Can any way ſpeake in his iuſt commend:
(obsolete, in the plural) Compliments; greetings.
- 1655, James Howell, “to Dr. Thomas Prichard at Worcester House”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], volume (please specify the page), 3rd edition, London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], OCLC 84295516:
  
  Hearty commends and much endeared love unto you.