commend

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from Latin commendare (“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.
- Dryden (Can we date this quote?)
  Historians commend Alexander for weeping when he read the actions of Achilles.
(transitive) To entrust or commit to the care of someone else.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By 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.
- Shakespeare (Can we date this quote?)
  Commend me to my brother.
(transitive) To recommend.
- Sir M. Hale (Can we date this quote?)
  Among the objects of knowledge, two especially commend themselves to our contemplation.
- Bible, Romans xvi. 1
  I commend unto you Phoebe our sister.
(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)
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)
Italian: elogiare (it), lodare (it)
Middle English: enhauncen
Portuguese: agradecer (pt)
Romanian: lăuda (ro), elogia (ro)
Russian: хвалить (ru) impf (xvalitʹ)
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

Italian: affidare (it), raccomandare (it)
Portuguese: recomendar (pt)
Romanian: recomanda (ro)
Russian: предава́ть (ru) (predavátʹ), вверять (ru) impf (vverjatʹ)

NounEdit

commend (plural commends)

(obsolete) Commendation; praise.
- Shakespeare (Can we date this quote?)
  Speak in his just commend.
(obsolete, in the plural) Compliments; greetings.
- Howell (Can we date this quote?)
  Hearty commends and much endeared love to you.