ˈkäməˌserē, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English commissarie, from Medieval Latin commissarius one to whom something is entrusted, from Latin commissus, past participle of committere to entrust + -arius -ary — more at commit
1.
a. : an officer in the Church of England with spiritual or ecclesiastical jurisdiction who represents a bishop in an especially distant part of the diocese or who performs the bishop's duties in his absence
b. : a clergyman appointed by a bishop or other official in the Church of England as his deputy for certain specified purposes
2. : one to whom some charge, duty, or office has been committed by a superior power ; especially : one sent or delegated to execute a duty or an office as the representative of his superior
3.
a. : a civilian official or military officer in charge of some special service or department
commissary of muster
commissary of Indian affairs
commissary of prisoners
especially : one in charge of procuring or distributing food and other supplies for military forces
b. : a department or store supplying personal equipment and provisions (as on a military post or in a railroad, lumber, or mining camp)
c. : food supplies : one's stock of provisions : commissariat
d. : a lunchroom or refectory especially in a motion-picture studio
4. : a superior French police official
5. : a judge of a commissary court in Scotland
6. : commissar
ordinances of the Council of People's Commissaries — W.E.Walling