Part 373

Com"ma*tism (?), n. [See Commatic.] Conciseness in writing. Bp. Horsley.

Com*meas"ur*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. Commensurable.] Having the same measure; commensurate; proportional.

She being now removed by death, a commeasurable grief took as full possession of him as joy had done. I. Walton.

Com*meas"ure (?), v. t. To be commensurate with; to equal. Tennyson.

Com*mem"o*ra"ble (?), a. [L. commemorabilis.] Worthy to be commemorated.

Com*mem"o*rate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commemorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commemorating.] [L. commemoratus, p. p. of commemorare to remember; com- + memorare to mention, fr. memor mindful. See Memory.] To call to remembrance by a special act or observance; to celebrate with honor and solemnity; to honor, as a person or event, by some act of respect or affection, intended to preserve the remembrance of the person or event; as, to commemorate the sufferings and dying love of our Savior by the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; to commemorate the Declaration of Independence by the observance of the Fourth of July.

We are called upon to commemorate a revolution. Atterbury.

Syn. -- See Celebrate.

Com*mem`o*ra"tion (?), n. [L. commemoratio.] 1. The act of commemorating; an observance or celebration designed to honor the memory of some person or event.

This sacrament was designed to be a standing commemoration of the death and passion of our Lord. Abp. Tillotson.

The commonwealth which . . . chooses the most flagrant act of murderous regicide treason for a feast of eternal commemoration. Burke.

2. Whatever serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial.

Commemoration day, at the University of Oxford, Eng., an annual observance or ceremony in honor of the benefactors of the University, at which time honorary degrees are conferred.

Com*mem"o*ra*tive (?), a. Tending or intended to commemorate. "A sacrifice commemorative of Christ's offering up his body for us." Hammond.

An inscription commemorative of his victory. Sir G. C. Lewis.

Com*mem"o*ra`tor (?), n. [L.] One who commemorates.

Com*mem"o*ra*to*ry (?), a. Serving to commemorate; commemorative. Bp. Hooper.

Com*mence" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Commencing.] [F. commencer, OF. comencier, fr. L. com- + initiare to begin. See Initiate.] 1. To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin.

Here the anthem doth commence. Shak.

His heaven commences ere the world be past. Goldsmith.

2. To begin to be, or to act as. [Archaic]

We commence judges ourselves. Coleridge.

3. To take a degree at a university. [Eng.]

I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age. Fuller.

Com*mence", v. t. To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of.

Many a wooer doth commence his suit. Shak.

&fist; It is the practice of good writers to use the verbal noun (instead of the infinitive with to) after commence; as, he commenced studying, not he commenced to study.

Com*mence"ment (?), n. [F. commencement.] 1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start.