[man.date] n [MF & L; MF mandat, fr. L mandatum, fr. neut. of mandatus, pp. of mandare to entrust, enjoin, prob. irreg. fr. manus hand + -dere to put--more at manual, do] (1501) 1: an authoritative command; esp: a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one
2: an authorization to act given to a representative "accepted the ~ of the people" 3 a: an order or commission granted by the League of Nations to a member nation for the establishment of a responsible government over a former German colony or other conquered territory b: a mandated territory
[2]mandate vt man.dat.ed ; man.dat.ing (1919) 1: to administer or assign (as a territory) under a mandate
2: to make mandatory: order; also: direct, require