/kom'euh sair"ee euht/ , n.
1. any of the major governmental divisions of the U.S.S.R.: called ministry since 1946.
2. the organized method or manner by which food, equipment, transport, etc., is delivered to armies.
3. the department of an army charged with supplying provisions.
[ 1600-10; commissariatus, equiv. to ML commissari ( us ) COMMISSARY + -atus -ATE 3 ; (def. 1) komissariát ]