Part 378

Com*mis"er*a*ble (?), a. Pitiable. [Obs.] Bacon.

Com*mis"er*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commiserated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commiserating.] [L. commiseratus, p. p. of commiserari to commiserate; com- + miserari to pity. See Miserable.] To feel sorrow, pain, or regret for; to pity.

Then must we those, who groan, beneath the weight Of age, disease, or want, commiserate. Denham.

We should commiserate our mutual ignorance. Locke.

Syn. -- To pity; compassionate; lament; condole.

Com*mis`er*a"tion (?), n. [F. commisÚration, fr. L. commiseratio a part of an oration intended to excite compassion.] The act of commiserating; sorrow for the wants, afflictions, or distresses of another; pity; compassion.

And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint. Shak.

Syn. -- See Sympathy.

Com*mis"er*a*tive (?), a. Feeling or expressing commiseration. Todd.

Com*mis"er*a`tor (?), n. One who pities.

Com`mis*sa"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a commissary.

Com`mis*sa"ri*at (?; 277), n. [F. commissariat.] (Mil.) (a) The organized system by which armies and military posts are supplied with food and daily necessaries. (b) The body of officers charged with such service.

Com"mis*sa*ry (?), n.; pl. Commissaries (#). [LL. commissarius, fr. L. commissus, p. p. of committere to commit, intrust to. See Commit.] 1. One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a superior power; a commissioner.

Great Destiny, the Commissary of God. Donne.

2. (Eccl.) An officer of the bishop, who exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction in parts of the diocese at a distance from the residence of the bishop. Ayliffe.

3. (Mil.) (a) An officer having charge of a special service; as, the commissary of musters. (b) An officer whose business is to provide food for a body of troops or a military post; -- officially called commissary of subsistence. [U. S.]

Washington wrote to the President of Congress . . . urging the appointment of a commissary general, a quartermaster general, a commissary of musters, and a commissary of artillery. W. Irving

Commissary general, an officer in charge of some special department of army service; as: (a) The officer in charge of the commissariat and transport department, or of the ordnance store department. [Eng.] (b) The commissary general of subsistence. [U. S.] -- Commissary general of subsistence (Mil. U. S.), the head of the subsistence department, who has charge of the purchase and issue of provisions for the army.

Com"mis*sa*ry*ship (?), n. The office or employment of a commissary. Ayliffe.

Com*mis"sion (?), n. [F., fr. L. commissio. See Commit.] 1. The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of perpetrating.

Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness. South.

2. The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust shall be executed.

3. The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a trust; a charge.

4. A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties.

Let him see our commission. Shak.

5. A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority; as, a colonel's commission.

6. A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the execution of some trust; as, the interstate commerce commission.

A commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter. Prescott.