Etymology dictionary
Comanche (n.) — commitment (n.)
Comanche (n.)
Native-American people from the southwestern Great Plains, 1819, from Spanish, from a word in a Shoshonean language, such as Ute kimánci "enemy, foreigner." Their territory was Comancheria. Comanchero was a 19c. name given to Hispanic and American traders who dealt with the Comanches.
comatose (adj.)
1755, "affected with coma, morbidly drowsy or lethargic," from Latinized form of Greek komat-, combining form of koma (genitive komatos; see coma (n.1)) + -ose (1). The English word is perhaps immediately from French comateux. Transferred sense of "lethargic" is from 1828.
comb (v.)
c. 1400 (implied in past participle kombid), "to dress (the hair) with a comb," a verb derived from comb (n.) and replacing the former verb, Old English cemban, which however survives in unkempt. Meaning "to card (wool)" is from 1570s. Colloquial sense "to search, examine closely" is by 1904, American English. Related: Combed; combing.
combative (adj.)
"pugnacious, disposed to fight," 1819, from combat (v.) + -ive. In 1820s-30s, much associated with phrenology. Related: Combatively; combativeness (1815).
comb (n.)
Old English camb (later Anglian comb) "thin strip of toothed, stiff material" (for dressing the hair), also "fleshy crest growing on the head of the domestic fowl" (so called for its serrations), hence "crest of a hat, helmet, etc.;" also "honeycomb" (for which see honeycomb (n.)) , from Proto-Germanic *kambaz (source also of Old Saxon and Old High German camb, German Kamm, Middle Dutch cam, Dutch kam, Old Norse kambr), literally "toothed object," from PIE *gombhos, from root *gembh- "tooth, nail."
From c. 1300 as a tool for carding wool (probably earlier; Comber as a surname is from c. 1200). Comb-paper (1866) is marbled paper in which the design is produced mostly by use of a comb.
combatant
mid-15c. (adj.) "contending, disposed to combat;" late 15c. (n.) "one who engages in battle;" from Old French combatant (Modern French combattant) "skilled at fighting, warlike" (also used as a noun in Old French), present-participle adjective of combattre (see combat (v.)).
combat (v.)
1560s, "to fight, struggle, contend" (intransitive), from French combat (16c.), from Old French combattre (12c.), from Late Latin combattere, from Latin com "with (each other)," see com-, + battuere "to beat, fight" (see batter (v.)). Transitive sense is from 1580s; figurative sense from 1620s. Related: Combated; combating; combatted; combatting.
combat (n.)
1560s, "a fight," originally especially "a fight between two armed persons" (later distinguished as single combat, 1620s), also in a general sense of "any struggle or fight between opposing forces," from French combat (see combat (v.)).
comber (n.)
c. 1200 (as a surname), "one who cards wool," agent noun from comb (v.). Meaning "a long, curling wave" is 1840, American English, from comb (v.), in reference to a wave, "roll over with a white foam" (1808), which is perhaps from resemblance to a fowl's comb.
combine (n.)
"machine that cuts, threshes, and cleans grain," 1900, short for combine harvester, combine mower (1857), from combine (v.). The noun was used earlier in the sense "conspiracy" (c. 1600); it became obsolete but was revived (1886) in the sense "combination or agreement between persons to further common interests."
combine (v.)
early 15c., "to associate, unite, join two or more things together" (transitive), from Old French combiner (14c.) and directly from Late Latin combinare "to unite, yoke together," from Latin com "with, together" (see com-) + bini "two by two," adverb from bi- "twice" (from PIE root *dwo- "two"). Intransitive sense "unite, coalesce, come together into one body" is from 1712. Related: Combinative; combined; combining.
combination (n.)
late 14c., combinacyoun, "act of uniting (two things) in a whole; state of being so united," from Old French combination (14c., Modern French combinaison), from Late Latin combinationem (nominative combinatio) "a joining two by two," noun of action from past participle stem of combinare "to unite, yoke together," from Latin com "with, together" (see com-) + bini "two by two," adverb from bi- "twice" (from PIE root *dwo- "two").
Sense of "a whole formed by uniting" is from 1530s; specific sense of "union or association of persons for the attainment of some common end" is from 1570s. Meaning "series of moves required to open a combination lock" is from 1880; combination lock, one requiring a certain combination of moves to open it, is from 1851. Related: Combinational.
combo (n.)
1929, U.S. slang, originally in entertainment (jazz groups, dance teams), short for combination, which was used by 1924 in the sense "small instrumental band."
combustion (n.)
"action or process of burning," early 15c., from Old French combustion (13c.) and directly from Latin combustionem (nominative combustio) "a burning," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin comburere "to burn up, consume," from com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + *burere, based on a faulty separation of amburere "to burn around," which is properly ambi-urere, from urere "to burn, singe" (from PIE root *heus- "to burn;" see ember).
combust (v.)
"to inflame, to burn," late 15c., from Latin combustus, past participle of combuere "to burn up, consume" (see combustion). "Now only jocular or affected" [OED]. Related: Combusted; combusting. Combust was used in Middle English from late 14c. as a past-participle adjective, "burnt," from Old French combust (14c.) and directly from Latin combustus. Also it was an astrological term for planets when near the sun.
combustible (adj.)
"capable of burning," 1520s, from French combustible, or directly from Late Latin combustibilis, from Latin combustus, past participle of combuere "to burn up, consume" (see combustion). Figurative sense "easily excited" is from 1640s. As a noun, "a substance that will burn," from 1680s. Related: Combustibility (late 15c.).
coming (n.)
late 13c., "a drawing near or arrival," verbal noun from come (v.). From mid-15c. as a present-participle adjective, "approaching in space or time."
come (v.)
elementary intransitive verb of motion, Old English cuman "to move with the purpose of reaching, or so as to reach, some point; to arrive by movement or progression;" also "move into view, appear, become perceptible; come to oneself, recover; arrive; assemble" (class IV strong verb; past tense cuom, com, past participle cumen), from Proto-Germanic *kwem- (source also of Old Saxon cuman, Old Frisian kuma, Middle Dutch comen, Dutch komen, Old High German queman, German kommen, Old Norse koma, Gothic qiman), from PIE root *gwa- "to go, come."
The substitution of Middle English -o- for Old English -u- was a scribal habit before minims to avoid misreading the letters in the old style handwriting, which jammed them together (see U). Modern past tense form came is Middle English, probably from Old Norse kvam, replacing Old English cuom.
Meaning "to happen, occur" is from early 12c. (come to pass "happen, occur" is from 1520s). As an invitation to action, c. 1300; as a call or appeal to a person (often in expanded forms: "come, come," "come, now"), mid-14c. Come again? as an off-hand way of asking "what did you say?" is attested by 1884. For sexual senses, see cum.
Remarkably productive with prepositions (NTC's "Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs" lists 198 combinations); consider the varied senses in come to "regain consciousness," come over "possess" (as an emotion), come at "attack," come on (interj.) "be serious," and come off "occur, have some level of success" (1864). Among other common expressions are:
To come down with "become ill with" (a disease), 1895; come in, of a radio operator, "begin speaking," 1958; come on "advance in growth or development," c. 1600; come out, of a young woman, "make a formal entry into society," 1782; come round "return to a normal state or better condition," 1841; come through "act as desired or expected," 1914; come up "arise as a subject of attention," 1844; come up with "produce, present," 1934.
To have it coming "deserve what one suffers" is from 1904. To come right down to it "get to fundamental facts" is from 1875.
comely (adj.)
c. 1200, "decent, suitable, proper to the time, place, circumstances, or persons;" late 14c., "handsome, fair, graceful, pleasing in appearance" (of a man, woman, or thing), probably from Old English cymlic "lovely, splendid, finely made," from cyme "exquisite, glorious, delicate," which is apparently from West Germanic *kumi- "delicate, feeble" (source also of Old High German chumo "with difficulty," chumig "weak, delicate;" German kaum "hardly, scarcely"). OED compares the sense range of nice.
Or perhaps the modern word is from Middle English bicumelic (c. 1200) "suitable, exquisite," literally "becomely" (compare becoming). If this is not the source, it at least influenced the vowel. Related: Comelily; comeliness.
come-at-able (adj.)
"capable of being approached, attainable," 1680s, from come + at + -able.
comeback (n.)
also come-back, 1889 as "verbal retort," from the verbal phrase; see come + back (adv.). Meaning "recovery, return to former position or condition after retirement or loss" is attested from 1908, American English.
comedic (adj.)
"pertaining to or of the nature of comedy," 1630s, from comedy + -ic, or else from Latin comoedicus, from Greek komoidikos "pertaining to comedy," from komoidia. Comedical is from 1610s. Related: Comedically.
comedy (n.)
late 14c., "narrative with a happy ending; any composition intended for amusement," from Old French comedie (14c.), "a poem" (not in the theatrical sense) and directly from Latin comoedia, from Greek kōmōidia "a comedy, amusing spectacle," probably [Beekes] from kōmōidos "actor or singer in the revels," from kōmos "revel, carousal, merry-making, festival" + aoidos "singer, poet," from aeidein "to sing," which is related to ōidē (see ode).
The origin of Greek komos is uncertain; perhaps it is from a PIE *komso- "praise," and cognate with Sanskrit samsa "praise, judgment." Beekes suggests Pre-Greek. The old derivation from kome "village" is not now regarded.
The classical sense of the word was "amusing play or performance with a happy ending," which is similar to the modern one, but in the Middle Ages the word meant poems and stories generally (albeit ones with happy endings), such as Dante's "Commedia." The revival of learning 16c. recovered the ancient comedies and shifted the sense of the word to "branch of drama addressing primarily the humorous and ridiculous" (opposed to tragedy). In 18c. this was somewhat restricted to "humorous, but not grossly comical, drama" (opposed to farce).
The meaning "comic play or drama" is from 1550s (the first modern comedy in English usually is said to be Nicholas Udall's "Roister Doister"). The extended sense "humorous or comic incident or events in life" is from 1560s. The generalized sense of "quality of being amusing" dates from 1877.
comedian (n.)
1580s, "comic poet," later (c. 1600) "actor in stage comedies," also, generally, "actor;" from French comédien, from comédie (see comedy). Meaning "professional joke-teller, entertainer who performs to make the audience laugh" is from 1898. Old English had heahtorsmið "laughter-maker."
comedienne (n.)
1849, "actress who plays comedy," from French comédienne, fem. of comédien (see comedian). From 1945 as "professional female joke-teller."
comedo (n.)
"blackhead; hard, blackish tubercule on the skin of the face," 1852, from Latin comedo "glutton," from comedere "to eat up" (see comestible). A name formerly given to worms that devour the body; transferred in medical use to secretions that resemble them.
come-down (n.)
"setback, sudden change for the worse in one's circumstances," 1840, from verbal phrase; see come (v.) + down (adv.). In 16c.-17c. "total destruction" was expressed metaphorically as "to come to Castle Comedown" (1560s).
come-outer (n.)
1850, U.S. slang, "one who abandons or dissents from an established creed or religious custom," from verbal phrase; see come + out (adv.).
comer (n.)
late 14c., "visitor, one who approaches or is lately arrived," agent noun from come. Meaning "one showing promise" is attested from 1879. Phrase all comers "everyone who chooses to come" is recorded from 1560s. Middle English also had comeling "a comer, newcomer, stranger, guest" (mid-13c.), also "stray animal" (c. 1200).
comestible (n.)
1837, "article of food," from French comestible (14c.), from Late Latin comestibilis, from Latin comestus, past participle of comedere "eat up, consume," from com "with, together," here "thoroughly" (see com-) + edere "to eat" (from PIE root *ed- "to eat"). It was attested earlier as an adjective meaning "fit to eat" but this seems to have fallen from use 17c., and the word was reintroduced from French as a noun.
comet (n.)
"one of a class of celestial bodies which move about the sun in great, elliptical orbits," c. 1200, from Old French comete (12c., Modern French comète), from Latin cometa, from Greek (aster) komētēs, literally "long-haired (star)," from komē "hair of the head" (compare koman "let the hair grow long"), which is of unknown origin. So called from resemblance of a comet's tail to streaming hair.
Visible only when near the sun, they were anciently regarded as omens of ruin, pestilence, and the overthrow of kingdoms. Halley in 1682 established the fact that many were periodic. Comet-wine (1833), that made in any year in which notable comets have been seen, was reputed to have a superior flavor (the original reference is to the Great Comet of 1811). Related: Cometary; cometic; cometical.
cometh (v.)
obsolete or poetic 2nd and 3rd person singular of come, from Old English cymeð.
comeuppance (n.)
also comeupance, "one's deserts, reversal or punishment that one deserves," 1859, presumably it is rooted in the same notion in the verbal phrase come up "present oneself for judgment before a tribunal" (see come + up (adv.)) + -ance.
comfy (adj.)
1829, colloquial shortening of comfortable.
comfit (n.)
early 15c., confit, "sugarplum, sugary sweet, type of fruit or root preserved with sugar and dried," from Old French confit "preserved fruit," from Latin confectum, from confectionem, noun use of confectus, past participle of conficere "to prepare" (see confection). Forms with -m- appear from mid-15c.
comforter (n.)
mid-14c., "one who consoles or supports in distress, anger, etc." (originally in religious use, with capital C-, "the Holy Ghost"), from Anglo-French confortour (Old French conforteor) "helper, adviser, supporter," from Vulgar Latin *confortatorem, agent noun from Late Latin confortare "to strengthen much" (see comfort (v.)). As a kind of knitted, crocheted scarf fit for tying around the neck in cold weather, from 1817; as a kind of quilted coverlet, from 1832.
comfortable (adj.)
mid-14c., "affording mental or spiritual comfort," from Anglo-French and Old French confortable "comforting; pleasant, agreeable," from conforter "to comfort, solace" (see comfort (v.)); also see -able. Meaning "cheering, cheerful" is from c. 1400. Meaning "offering physical comfort" is attested from 1769; that of "in a state of tranquil enjoyment" is from 1770.
comfort (v.)
late 13c., conforten "to cheer up, console, soothe when in grief or trouble," from Old French conforter "to comfort, to solace; to help, strengthen," from Late Latin confortare "to strengthen much" (used in Vulgate), from assimilated form of Latin com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + fortis "strong" (see fort).
The change of -n- to -m- began in English 14c. In Middle English also "give or add strength to" (c. 1300); "encourage, urge, exhort" (c. 1300). Related: Comforted; comforting.
comfortably (adv.)
late 14c., "pleasantly, enjoyably," from comfortable + -ly (2). Meaning "in a state of comfort" is 1630s.
comfort (n.)
c. 1200, "feeling of relief in affliction or sorrow; solace, consolation" (as still in take comfort); also "source of alleviation or relief;" from Old French confort "consolation, solace; pleasure, enjoyment," from conforter "to solace; to help, strengthen" (see comfort (v.)). An Old English word in the same sense was frofor. Meaning "state of enjoyment resulting from satisfaction of bodily wants and freedom from anxiety" is from mid-13c. Also in Middle English "strength, support, encouragement" (late 14c.). Comforts (as opposed to necessities and luxuries) is from 1650s. Comfort food "food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value but typically is of dubious nutritional value" is by 1987.
comfortless (adj.)
late 14c., "discouraged, in despair," from comfort (n.) + -less. From 1570s as "wanting physical comforts." Related" Comfortlessly; comfortlessness.
comical (adj.)
1550s, "of or pertaining to comedy," from comic (or Latin comicus) + -al (1). Meaning "funny, exciting mirth" is from 1680s. Also sometimes in 17c. "befitting comedy, low, ignoble." Related: Comicality; comicalness.
comic (adj.)
late 14c., "of comedy in the classical sense, pertaining to comedy as distinct from tragedy," from Latin comicus "of comedy, represented in comedy, in comic style," from Greek komikos "of or pertaining to comedy," from komos (see comedy). Meaning "intentionally funny, raising mirth" is first recorded 1791, and comedic (1630s) has since picked up the older sense of the word.
Something that is comic has comedy as its aim or origin; something is comical if the effect is comedy, whether intended or not. Comic relief is attested from 1817.
comic (n.)
1580s, "a comedic writer;" 1610s, "a comedic actor or singer," from comic (adj.). The Latin adjective comicus also meant "a comedic poet, writer of comedies." Meaning "an entertainer who tells jokes, etc." is by 1952.
Comics for comedic illustrations in cards, newspapers, etc. is from 1890. Comic strip first attested 1914; comic book "a publication that consists of comic art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes" [Wikipedia] is from 1941 (the phrase was used from the 1880s to denote humorous books, some of which consisted entirely of captioned illustrations).
comingle (v.)
"to mingle together," c. 1600, the better (because mingle is not from Latin), but less-used, English form of commingle. Related: comingled; comingling.
Comintern (n.)
"international organization of the Communist Party," founded 1919, from contraction of Communist International and modeled on Russian Komintern.
comitatus (n.)
1875, "body of companions or attendants," Latin collective of comes, comitem "a companion, an associate" (see count (n.1)). In posse comitatus it means "of a county."
comity (n.)
early 15c., "association," from French comité, from Latin comitas "courtesy, friendliness, kindness, affability," from comis "courteous, friendly, kind," perhaps from PIE *ko(m)smi-, literally "smiling with," from *kom- "together" + root *smei- "to laugh, smile" (see smile (v.)).
Meaning "courtesy, civility" in English is from 1540s. Phrase comity of nations attested from 1812: "The obligation recognized by civilized nations to respect each other's laws and usages as far as their separate interests allow."
comix (n.)
1968 (R. Crumb), variant spelling of comics (see comic (n.)) in the comic book or strip sense.
comma (n.)
punctuation mark, 1520s as a Latin word, nativized by 1590s, from Latin comma "short phrase or clause of a sentence or line of poetry," from Greek komma "clause in a sentence," also ""stamp, coinage," literally "piece which is cut off," from koptein "to strike, smite, cut off; disable, tire out," which is perhaps from PIE root *kop- "to beat, strike, smite" (see hatchet (n.)), or perhaps Pre-Greek.
Like colon (n.1) and period it was originally a Greek rhetorical term for a part of a sentence, and like them it has been transferred to the punctuation mark that identifies it. In reading aloud the punctuation mark is used to admit small interruptions in continuity of speech for the sake of clarity, but its purpose is to indicate grammatical structure.
commandeer (v.)
1881, "to seize or force into military service," from Dutch (especially Afrikaans) kommandeeren "to command" (for military service), from French commander "to order" (see command (v.)). General sense "take arbitrary possession of" is from 1900. Related: Commandeered; commandeering.
commandant (n.)
"commanding officer," especially of a fortified town or garrison, 1680s, from French commandant "the one commanding" originally "commanding," present participle of commander (Old French comander) "to order, enjoin;" see command (v.). Similar formation in Spanish and Italian comandante.
command (n.)
c. 1400, "an order, a command; what is commanded or ordered," from Old French comand (14c.), from comander "to order, to entrust" (see command (v.)). Meaning "control, right or authority to order or compel obedience" is from mid-15c. Meaning "power of control, mastery" (of a situation, a language, etc.) is from 1640s.
commanding (adj.)
late 15c., "ruling, controlling, directing with authority, of great or controlling importance," present-participle adjective from command (v.). Meaning "nobly dignified, compelling respect, characteristic of one fitted for command" is from 1590s. Meaning "dominant by virtue of size or position" is from 1630s. Related: Commandingly (mid-15c.) "imperiously."
command (v.)
c. 1300, "order or direct with authority" (transitive), from Old French comander "to order, enjoin, entrust" (12c., Modern French commander), from Vulgar Latin *commandare, from Latin commendare "to recommend, entrust to" (see commend); altered by influence of Latin mandare "to commit, entrust" (see mandate (n.)). In this sense Old English had bebeodan.
Intransitive sense "act as or have authority of a commander, have or exercise supreme power" is from late 14c. Also from late 14c. as "have within the range of one's influence" (of resources, etc.), hence, via a military sense, "have a view of, overlook" in reference to elevated places (1690s). Related: Commanded; commanding.
Command-post "headquarters of a military unit" is from 1918. A command performance (1863) is one given by royal command.
commander (n.)
"one who has the authority or power to command or order," early 14c., comandur, from Old French comandeor "commander, commandant," from comander "to order, enjoin" (see command (v.)). Commander in chief "commander of all the armies of a state" is attested from 1650s. In the U.S., by the Constitution, it is the president; George Washington was so called by 1778.
commandment (n.)
late 13c., "an order from an authority," originally "any one of the ten injunctions engraved upon stone tablets and given to Moses on Mt. Sinai according to Exodus," from Old French comandement "order, command," from Latin *commandamentum, from *commandare (see command (v.)). Pronounced as four syllables until 17c.
Commandments, short for The Ten Commandments, is attested from early 13c. In Old English they were ða bebodu.
commando (n.)
1791, in a South African context, "private military raid undertaken by the Boers against the natives for personal ends," also the name of the leader of the raid and the permission given for it, from Afrikaans commando, "a troop under a commander," from Portuguese commando, literally "party commanded" (see command (v.)).
Sense of "elite special forces soldier trained for rapid operations" is from 1940 (originally of shock troops to repel the threatened German invasion of England), first attested in writings of Winston Churchill, who could have picked it up during the Boer War.
Phrase going commando "not wearing underwear" attested by 1996, U.S. slang, perhaps on notion of being ready for instant action.
comme ci, comme ca (adv., adj.)
"so-so," 1945, from French comme ci, comme ça, literally "like this, like that."
commedia dell'arte (n.)
"improvised popular comedy involving stock characters," 1768, Italian, literally "comedy of art;" see comedy + art (n.). Arte here is likely meant in the sense of artful. The older term for this type of theatre in English is Italian Comedy.
comme il faut
"according to etiquette," 1756, French, literally "as it should be." From comme "as, like, how," from Old French com, from Vulgar Latin *quomo, from Latin quomodo "how? in what way?," pronominal adverb of manner, related to quam "how much?," qui "who" (from PIE root *kwo-, stem of relative and interrogative pronouns). With il, from Latin ille "this" (see le) + faut, third person singular present indicative active of falloir "be necessary," literally "be wanting or lacking" (see fail (v.)).
commemoration (n.)
late 14c., "a calling to mind," also "service or church festival commemorating something," from Old French comemoration, from Latin commemorationem (nominative commemoratio) "reminding, mention," noun of action from past participle stem of commemorare "to call to mind," from com-, here as an intensive prefix (see com-), + memorare "to remind," from memor "mindful of" (from PIE root *(s)mer- (1) "to remember").
commemorative (adj.)
"serving or intended for commemoration," 1610s, from commemorate + -ive. As a noun meaning "means of commemoration" it is recorded from 1630s; as short for commemorative postage stamp from 1916.
commemorate (v.)
1590s, "call to remembrance," from Latin commemoratus, past participle of commemorare "bring to remembrance," from com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + memorare "to remind," from memor "mindful of" (from PIE root *(s)mer- (1) "to remember").
Meaning "perpetuate the memory of" (by solemn act, etc.) is from 1630s. Of things, "to serve as a memento of, to perpetuate the memory of," 1766. Related: Commemorated; commemorates; commemorating.
commen
obsolete spelling of common.
commence (v.)
c. 1300, "to start, initiate, cause to begin to be" (transitive), from Old French comencier "to begin, to start" (10c., Modern French commencer), from Vulgar Latin *cominitiare, originally "to initiate as priest, consecrate," from Latin com "with, together" (see com-) + initiare "to initiate," from initium "a beginning," literally "a going in," noun use of neuter past participle of inire "to go into, begin," from in- "into, in" (from PIE root *en "in") + ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go").
From late 14c. in intransitive sense "come into existence, begin to be," also "enter into a new state." Spelling with double -m- began in French and was established in English by 1500. Related: Commenced; commencing.
commencement (n.)
late 13c., "a beginning, act or fact of coming into existence," from Old French comencement "beginning, start" (Modern French commencement), from comencier "to begin, to start" (see commence).
Meaning "school graduation ceremony" attested by 1850, American English, originally in colleges, in reference to the ceremonies by which members of the graduating class are made ("begin to be") bachelors, masters, etc. (commencement in the sense of "entrance upon the privileges of a master or doctor in a university" is from late 14c.) ; thence extended to graduation ceremonies of academies and lower schools.
commend (v.)
mid-14c., comenden, "praise, mention approvingly," from Latin commendare "to commit to the care or keeping (of someone), to entrust to; to commit to writing;" hence "to set off, render agreeable, praise," from com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + mandare "to commit to one's charge" (see mandate (n.)). A doublet of command.
Sense of "commit, deliver with confidence" in English is from late 14c. Meaning "bring to mind, send the greeting of" is from c. 1400. The "praise" sense is from the notion of "present as worthy of notice or regard;" also in some cases probably a shortening of recommend. Related: Commended; commending.
commendation (n.)
late 14c., commendacioun, "expression of approval," late 14c. (from c. 1200 as the name of one of the Offices of the Dead), from Old French commendacion "approval, praise," from Latin commendationem (nominative commendatio) "recommendation, commendation," noun of action from past participle stem of commendare "to praise, to commit to one's care" (see commend).
commendable (adj.)
"capable of being praised," mid-14c., from Old French commendable and directly from Latin commendabilis "praiseworthy," from commendare "to praise, to commit to one's care" (see commend). Related: Commendably.
commendatory (adj.)
"commending, recommending," 1550s, from Late Latin commendatorius, from Latin commendator, from commendare "to commit to the care of; to set off, render agreeable, praise" (see commend). Commendative in the same sense is from early 15c.
commensal (adj.)
late 14c., "eating together at the same table, sharing the table with the host," from Medieval Latin commensalis, from com "with, together" (see com-) + mensa (genitive mensalis) "table" (see mesa).
As a noun, "one who eats at the same table" (as another), early 15c. Biological sense "one of two animals or plants which live together but neither at the expense of the other" is attested from 1870.
commensalism (n.)
"commensal existence or mode of living," 1870, from commensal + -ism.
commensurate (adj.)
1640s, "corresponding in amount, degree, or magnitude," also "of equal size" (on the notion of "having the same boundaries"), from Late Latin commensuratus, from Latin com "with, together" (see com-) + Late Latin mensuratus, past participle of mensurare "to measure," from Latin mensura "a measuring, a measurement; thing to measure by," from mensus, past participle of metiri "to measure," from PIE root *me- (2) "to measure." Meaning "reducible to a common measure, commensurable" is from 1680s. Related: Commensurately.
commensurable (adj.)
"having a common measure" (as a yard and a foot, both of which may be measured by inches), 1550s, from Late Latin commensurabilis "having a common measure," from com "together, with" (see com-) + Latin mensurabilis "that can be measured," from mensurare "to measure," from Latin mensura "a measuring, a measurement; thing to measure by," from mensus, past participle of metiri "to measure," from PIE root *me- (2) "to measure."
commentate (v.)
1794, "to write commentary upon," a back-formation from commentator. It unconsciously revived Middle English commentaten "write a commentary, expound a text" (early 15c.). But this oldest sense in English is rare. The main modern meaning "to deliver commentary" (on some public event) is attested from 1939 (implied in commentating). Related: Commentated.
commentator (n.)
late 14c., "writer of commentaries," agent noun in Latin form from comment or commentary (Latin commentator meant "inventor, author," in Late Latin "interpreter"). Meaning "writer of notes or expository comments" is from 1640s; sense of "one who gives commentary" (originally in sports) is from 1928. Related: Commentatorial.
commentation (n.)
early 15c., commentacioun, "act or practice of writing commentary, annotation," from Latin commentationem (nominative commentatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of commentari "consider thoroughly, think over, discuss, write upon," from commentum "comment, interpretation" (see comment (n.)). From 1833 as "the making of comments."
comment (n.)
late 14c., "explanation, spoken or written remark," from Old French coment "commentary" or directly from Late Latin commentum "comment, interpretation," in classical Latin "invention, fabrication, fiction," neuter past participle of comminisci "to contrive, devise," from com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + base of meminisse "to remember," related to mens (genitive mentis) "mind" (from PIE root *men- (1) "to think").
The Latin word meaning "something invented" was taken by Isidore and other Christian theologians for "interpretation, annotation." No comment as a stock refusal to answer a journalist's question is first recorded 1950, from Truman's White House press secretary Charles Ross.
comment (v.)
early 15c.,"expound, explain, make remarks or notes upon" (transitive), from Medieval Latin commentare, alternative form of Latin commentari "consider thoroughly, think over, discuss, write upon," from commentum "comment, interpretation" (see comment (n.)). Related: Commented; commenting.
commenter (n.)
also, and originally commentor, late 14c., "author, writer of commentaries," from Medieval Latin commentor and Old French commentour, agent nouns; see comment (v.). Form in -er attested from 1630s. From 1889 as "one who makes remarks about actions, opinions, etc."
commentary (n.)
early 15c., "series or collection of comments," from Medieval Latin commentarius "notebook, annotation; diary, memoir," noun use of adjective, "relating to comments," from Late Latin commentum ""comment, interpretation" (see comment (n.)). Perhaps the Medieval Latin noun is short for volumen commentarium. Especially "explanation of difficult and obscure passages in a book or other writing" (1530s). Meaning "historical narrative" is from c. 1600. Meaning "description of some public event" is from 1927.
commerce (n.)
1530s, "social intercourse;" 1580s, "interchange of goods or property, trade," especially trade on a large scale by transportation between countries or different parts of the same country, from French commerce (14c.), from Latin commercium "trade, trafficking," from com "with, together" (see com-) + merx (genitive mercis) "merchandise" (see market (n.)). It also was the name of a card game very popular in 1770s and '80s. As a verb, "have dealings with," 1590s. Related: Commerced, commercing.
commercialism (n.)
1849, "principles and practice of commerce," from commercial (adj.) + -ism. By 1889 as "predominance of commercial pursuits in a place or community."
commercial (n.)
"an advertisement broadcast on radio or TV," 1935, from commercial (adj.). Earlier as a noun it was short for commercial traveler (1855).
commercial (adj.)
1680s, "engaging in trade," from commerce + -al (1). Meaning "done for the sake of financial profit" (of art, etc.), "prepared for the market or as an article of trade" is from 1871. Meaning "paid for by advertisements" (in reference to radio, TV, etc.) is from 1932. Related: Commercially.
commercialization (n.)
"operation of making (something) a matter of profit above other considerations," 1885, from commercialize + noun ending -ation.
commercialize (v.)
"subject to the principles and practices of commerce," 1830, from commercial (adj.) + -ize. Related: Commercialized; commercializing.
Commie (n.)
shortening of communist (n.), 1939. Australia/New Zealand variant Commo is attested from 1941.
commingle (v.)
1620s, "to mix together, blend" (intransitive), from com- + mingle. Also see comingle. Transitive sense attested by 1840. Related: Commingled; commingling.
comminute (v.)
"make (solids) small or fine, reduce to a fine powder," 1620s, from Latin comminutus, past participle of comminuere "to lessen, break into smaller parts," from com "with, together" (see com-) + minuere "to make smaller" (from PIE root *mei- (2) "small"). Related: Comminuted; comminuting; comminution (1570s, from Latin comminutionem).
commiserate (v.)
"feel sorrow, regret, or compassion for through sympathy," c. 1600, from Latin commiseratus, past participle of commiserari "to pity, bewail," from com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-) + miserari "bewail, lament," from miser "wretched" (see miser). Related: Commiserated; commiserating; commiserable. An Old English loan-translation of commiserari was efensargian.
commiseration (n.)
"sympathetic suffering of grief or sorrow for the afflictions or distress of another," 1580s, from French commisération, from Latin commiserationem (nominative commiseratio) "part of an oration intended to excite compassion," noun of action from past-participle stem of commiserari "to pity," from com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-) + miserari "bewail, lament," from miser "wretched" (see miser).
commission (v.)
1660s, "empower or authorize by commission," from commission (n.). In the naval sense, of persons, "be given the rank of an officer (by commission from authority)," from 1793; of a ship, "to be transferred from the naval yard and placed in the command of the officer put in charge of it," 1796. Related: Commissioned; commissioning.
commission (n.)
mid-14c., "authority entrusted to someone, delegated authority or power," from Old French commission and directly from Latin commissionem (nominative commissio) "act of committing," in Medieval Latin "delegation of business," noun of action from past participle stem of committere "to unite, connect, combine; to bring together," from com "with, together" (see com-) + mittere "to release, let go; send, throw" (see mission).
Meaning "document delegating authority" is from early 15c.; meaning "body of persons charged with authority for the performance of certain special duties" is from late 15c. Sense of "anything entrusted to anyone to perform" is from 1560s; sense of "act of committing or doing" is from 1590s.
Naval sense "period of active service of a warship" is by 1882 (in commission "under the command of an officer" is from 1733). Hence out of commission "laid up in a navy yard or in reserve" (1878), subsequently extended to other machinery, and, figuratively, to persons or human qualities by 1917.
In commercial use, "authority delegated by another for the purchase and sale of goods," 1620s. Meaning "allowance made or percentage given to an agent for transacting business" is from 1725.
commissar (n.)
in a Russian context, "representative appointed by a soviet and responsible for political indoctrination," 1918, from Russian komissar, from German Kommissar "commissioner," from French commissaire, ultimately from Medieval Latin commissarius (see commissary). Earlier in English it meant "commissary" (1640s), from the French word, which itself was used in English from 1753.
commissary (n.)
late 14c., "one to whom special duty is entrusted by a higher power," from Medieval Latin commissarius, from Latin commissus "entrusted," past participle of committere (see commit).
Originally especially ecclesiastical, "one who performs a bishop's duties in distant places or when he is absent;" the military sense of "official in charge of supply of food, stores, and transport" dates to late 15c. Hence "storeroom" (1882, U.S. military), especially for selling articles to persons engaged in a particular line of work, and then "dining room in a larger facility" (1924, American English), such as a movie studio.
commissariat (n.)
c. 1600, in Scottish law, "commissary court," from French commissariat, from Medieval Latin *commissariatus, from commissarius (see commissary). Military sense of "part of an army that supplies transport, provisions, camp equipment, etc.," is from 1779. In reference to the USSR, "ministry," from 1918 (see commissar).
commissioner (n.)
early 15c., "one appointed to perform some business by a commission from a proper authority," from Anglo-French commissionaire, from or on the model of Medieval Latin commissionarius "one entrusted with a commission," from commissionem "act of committing," in Medieval Latin "delegation of business" (see commission (n.)).
Meaning "member of a commission" is from 1530s, especially "person elected to manage the affairs of a municipality." Short form commish is attested by 1910 (earlier it was short for commission).
commit (v.)
late 14c., "to give in charge, entrust," from Latin committere "to unite, connect, combine; to bring together," from com "with, together" (see com-) + mittere "to release, let go; send, throw" (see mission).
The evolution of the modern range of meanings in English is not entirely clear. Sense of "to perpetrate (a crime), do, perform (especially something reprehensible)" was ancient in Latin; in English it is attested from mid-15c. Meaning "consign (someone) to custody (of prison, a mental institution, etc.) by official warrant" is from early 15c.
From 1530s as "trust (oneself) completely to;" from 1770 as "put or bring into danger by an irrevocable preliminary act." The intransitive use (in place of commit oneself) first recorded 1982, probably influenced by existentialism use (1948) of commitment to translate Sartre's engagement "emotional and moral engagement."
commitment (n.)
1610s, "action of officially consigning to the custody of the state," from commit + -ment. (Anglo-French had commettement.) Meaning "the pledging or engaging of oneself, a pledge, a promise" is attested from 1793; hence, "an obligation, an engagement" (1864).