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
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.
- 1485 – Thomas Malory. Le Morte Darthur, Book X, Chapter xliiij, leaf 242v
- Thenne Quene Gueneuer commended hym and soo dyd alle other good knyghtes made moche of hym excepte sire Gawayns bretheren /
- "Then Queen Guenever commended him, and so did all other good knights make much of him, except Sir Gawaine’s brethren."
- 1697, Virgil, “[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.
- 1485 – Thomas Malory. Le Morte Darthur, Book X, Chapter xliiij, leaf 242v
- (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 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (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.
- a. 1677, Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677, OCLC 42005461:
- 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
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to praise
to entrust
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See alsoEdit
NounEdit
commend (plural commends)
- (obsolete) Commendation; praise.
- c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], 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.
Further readingEdit
- commend in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- commend in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
- commend at OneLook Dictionary Search