(ˌ)enˌkōmēˈendə, -ˌkäm-; ˌenkəmˈyen- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish, from encomendar to entrust, from en- en- (I) (from Latin in- ) + obsolete Spanish comendar to entrust, from Latin commendare — more at commend
: an estate of land and the inhabiting Indians formerly granted to Spanish colonists or adventurers in America for purposes of tribute and evangelization — compare repartimiento