/ ˌkɒmɪˈsɑː(r); NAmE ˌkɑːm-/ noun
an officer of the Communist Party, especially in the past in the Soviet Union
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WORD ORIGIN
early 20th cent. (Russian Revolution): from Russian komissar , from French commissaire , from medieval Latin commissarius person in charge, from Latin commiss- joined, entrusted, from the verb committere (in medieval Latin put into custody), from com- with + mittere put or send.