n.
Pronunciation: k ə - ' mand
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English comanden, from Anglo-French cumander, from Vulgar Latin *commandare, alteration of Latin commendare to commit to one's charge ― more at COMMEND
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 : to direct authoritatively : ORDER
2 : to exercise a dominating influence over : have command of: as a : to have at one's immediate disposal < command s many resources> b : to demand or receive as one's due < command s a high fee> c : to overlook or dominate from or as if from a strategic position <a hill that command s the city> d : to have military command of as senior officer < command a regiment>
3 obsolete : to order or request to be given
intransitive verb
1 : to have or exercise direct authority : GOVERN
2 : to give orders
3 : to be commander
4 : to dominate as if from an elevated place
– com · mand · able \ - ' man-d ə -b ə l \ adjective
synonyms COMMAND , ORDER , BID , ENJOIN , DIRECT , INSTRUCT , CHARGE mean to issue orders. COMMAND and ORDER imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality. COMMAND stresses official exercise of authority <a general commanding troops>. ORDER may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise < ordered his employees about like slaves>. BID suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants) <she bade him be seated>. ENJOIN implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude <a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet>. DIRECT and INSTRUCT both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, INSTRUCT sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality < directed her assistant to hold all calls> <the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark>. CHARGE adds to ENJOIN an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility < charged by the President with a secret mission>.