a letter or the like recommending a person or thing.
3.
representation in favor of a person or thing.
4.
anything that serves to recommend a person or thing, or induce acceptance or favor.
Origin: 1400–50; late ME recommendacion < ML recommendātiōn- (s. of recommendātiō), equiv. to recommendāt(us) (ptp. of recommendāre to recommend; see -ate1) + -iōn--ion