Part 376

All fitness lies in a particular commensuration, or proportion of one thing to another. South.

Com"ment (?; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commented; p. pr. & vb. n. Commenting.] [F. commenter, L. commentari to meditate upon, explain, v. intens. of comminisci, commentus, to reflect upon, invent; com- + the root of meminisse to remember, mens mind. See Mind.] To make remarks, observations, or criticism; especially, to write notes on the works of an author, with a view to illustrate his meaning, or to explain particular passages; to write annotations; -- often followed by on or upon.

A physician to comment on your malady. Shak.

Critics . . . proceed to comment on him. Dryden.

I must translate and comment. Pope.

Com"ment, v. t. To comment on. [Archaic.] Fuller.

Com"ment, n. [Cf. OF. comment.] 1. A remark, observation, or criticism; gossip; discourse; talk.

Their lavish comment when her name was named. Tennyson.

2. A note or observation intended to explain, illustrate, or criticise the meaning of a writing, book, etc.; explanation; annotation; exposition.

All the volumes of philosophy, With all their comments. Prior.

Com"men*ta*ry (?), n.; pl. Commentaries (#). [L. commentarius, commentarium, note book, commentary: cf. F. commentaire. See Comment, v. i.] 1. A series of comments or annotations; esp., a book of explanations or expositions on the whole or a part of the Scriptures or of some other work.

This letter . . . was published by him with a severe commentary. Hallam.

2. A brief account of transactions or events written hastily, as if for a memorandum; -- usually in the plural; as, Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War.

Com"men*tate (?), v. t. & i. [L. commentatus, p. p. of commentari to meditate.] To write comments or notes upon; to make comments. [R.]

Commentate upon it, and return it enriched. Lamb.

Com`men*ta"tion (?), n. 1. The act or process of commenting or criticising; exposition. [R.]

The spirit of commentation. Whewell.

2. The result of the labors of a commentator.

Com"men*ta`tor (?), n. [L. commentator: cf. F. commentateur.] One who writes a commentary or comments; an expositor; an annotator.

The commentator's professed object is to explain, to enforce, to illustrate doctrines claimed as true. Whewell.

Com`men*ta*to"ri*al (? or ?), a. Pertaining to the making of commentaries. Whewell.

Com"men*ta`tor*ship (?), n. The office or occupation of a commentator.

Com"ment`er (?), n. One who makes or writes comments; a commentator; an annotator.

Com`men*ti"tious (?), a. [L. commentitius.] Fictitious or imaginary; unreal; as, a commentitious system of religion. [Obs.] Warburton.

Com"merce (?), n. (Formerly accented on the second syllable.) [F. commerce, L. commercium; com- + merx, mercis, merchandise. See Merchant.] 1. The exchange or buying and selling of commodities; esp. the exchange of merchandise, on a large scale, between different places or communities; extended trade or traffic.

The public becomes powerful in proportion to the opulence and extensive commerce of private men. Hume.

2. Social intercourse; the dealings of one person or class in society with another; familiarity.

Fifteen years of thought, observation, and commerce with the world had made him [Bunyan] wiser. Macaulay.