to present, mention, or praise as worthy of confidence, notice, kindness, etc.; recommend: to commend a friend to another; to commend an applicant for employment.
2.
to entrust; give in charge; deliver with confidence: I commend my child to your care.
3.
to cite or name with approval or special praise: to commend a soldier for bravery.
4.
Feudal Law. to place (oneself or one's land) under another's protection so as to become his vassal.
5.
Archaic. to recommend (a person) to the kind remembrance of another.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME commenden < L commendāre, equiv. to com-com-+ -mendāre, comb. form of mandāre; see mandate]
c.1325, from L. commendare "to entrust to, praise," from com- intens. prefix + mandare "to commit to one's charge" (see mandate). In some senses, a shortening of recommend.
Com*mand"\ (?; 61), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Commanding.] [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF. comander, F. commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to, to command. Cf. Commend, Mandate.]1. To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge. We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends. --Bacon. Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me. --Shak. 2. To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead. Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries. --Macaulay. Such aid as I can spare you shall command. --Shak. 3. To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook. Bridges commanded by a fortified house. --Motley. Up to the eastern tower, Whose height commands as subject all the vale. --Shak. One side commands a view of the finest garden. --Addison. 4. To have power or influence of the nature of authority over; to obtain as if by ordering; to receive as a due; to challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people; the best goods command the best price. 'Tis not in mortals to command success. --Addison. 5. To direct to come; to bestow. [Obs.] I will command my blessing upon you. --Lev. xxv. 21. Syn: To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule; overlook.
Com*mend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commended; p. pr. & vb. n. Commending.] [L. commendare; com- + mandare to intrust to one's charge, enjoin, command. Cf. Command, Mandate.]1. To commit, intrust, or give in charge for care or preservation. His eye commends the leading to his hand. --Shak. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. --Luke xxiii. 46. 2. To recommend as worthy of confidence or regard; to present as worthy of notice or favorable attention. Among the objects of knowledge, two especially commend themselves to our contemplation. --Sir M. Hale. I commend unto you Phebe our sister. --Rom. xvi. 1. 3. To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or an act. Historians commend Alexander for weeping when he read the actions of Achilles. --Dryden. 4. To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and good will. [Archaic] Commend me to my brother. --Shak.