commissary

[ kom-uh-ser-ee ]
See synonyms for commissary on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural com·mis·sar·ies.
  1. a store that sells food and supplies to the personnel or workers in a military post, mining camp, lumber camp, or the like.

  2. a dining room or cafeteria, especially one in a motion-picture studio.

  1. a person to whom some responsibility or role is delegated by a superior power; a deputy.

  2. (in France) a police official, usually just below the police chief in rank.

Origin of commissary

1
1350–1400; Middle English commissarie (<Anglo-French ) <Medieval Latin commissārius, equivalent to Latin commiss(us) (past participle of committere to commit) + -ārius-ary

Other words from commissary

  • com·mis·sar·i·al [kom-i-sair-ee-uhl], /ˌkɒm ɪˈsɛər i əl/, adjective
  • sub·com·mis·sar·i·al, adjective
  • sub·com·mis·sar·y, noun, plural sub·com·mis·sar·ies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for commissary

commissary

/ (ˈkɒmɪsərɪ) /


nounplural -saries
  1. US a shop supplying food or equipment, as in a military camp

  2. US army an officer responsible for supplies and food

  1. US a snack bar or restaurant in a film studio

  2. a representative or deputy, esp an official representative of a bishop

Origin of commissary

1
C14: from Medieval Latin commissārius official in charge, from Latin committere to entrust, commit

Derived forms of commissary

  • commissarial (ˌkɒmɪˈsɛərɪəl), adjective
  • commissaryship, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012