I. kə-ˈmi-shən noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin commission-, commissio act of bringing together, from committere
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a formal written warrant granting the power to perform various acts or duties
b. : a certificate conferring military rank and authority ; also : the rank and authority so conferred
2. : an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts : charge
3.
a. : authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another
b. : a task or matter entrusted to one as an agent for another
4.
a. : a group of persons directed to perform some duty
b. : a government agency having administrative, legislative, or judicial powers
c. : a city council having legislative and executive functions
5. : an act of committing something
commission of a crime
6. : a fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service ; especially : a percentage of the money received from a total paid to the agent responsible for the business
7. : an act of entrusting or giving authority
•
- in commission
- on commission
- out of commission
II. transitive verb
( -mis·sioned ; com·mis·sion·ing -ˈmi-sh(ə-)niŋ)
Date: circa 1661
1. : to furnish with a commission: as
a. : to confer a formal commission on
was commission ed lieutenant
b. : to appoint or assign to a task or function
was commission ed to do the biography
2. : to order to be made
commission ed a portrait
3. : to put (a ship) in commission