[com.mit] vb com.mit.ted ; com.mit.ting [ME committen, fr. L committere to connect, entrust, fr. com- + mittere to send] vt (14c) 1 a: to put into charge or trust: entrust b: to place in a prison or mental institution c: to consign or record for preservation "~ it to memory" d: to put into a place for disposal or safekeeping e: to refer (as a legislative bill) to a committee for consideration and report
2: to carry into action deliberately: perpetrate "~ a crime" 3 a: obligate, bind b: to pledge or assign to some particular course or use "all available troops were committed to the attack" c: to reveal the views of "refused to ~ himself on the issue" ~ vi 1 obs: to perpetrate an offense
2: to obligate or pledge oneself -- com.mit.ta.ble adj syn commit, entrust, confide, consign, relegate mean to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose. commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody "committed the felon to prison". entrust implies committing with trust and confidence "the president is entrusted with broad powers". confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance "confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney". consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality "consigned the damaging notes to the fire". relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of "relegated to an obscure position in the company".