Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Commission?

\Com*mis"sion\, n. [F., fr. L. commissio. See {Commit}.] 1. The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of perpetrating. Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness. --South. 2. The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust shall be executed. 3. The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a trust; a charge. 4. A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties. Let him see our commission. --Shak. 5. A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority; as, a colonel's commission. 6. A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the execution of some trust; as, the interstate commerce commission. A commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter. --Prescott. 7. (Com.) (a) The acting under authority of, or on account of, another. (b) The thing to be done as agent for another; as, I have three commissions for the city. (c) The brokerage or allowance made to a factor or agent for transacting business for another; as, a commission of ten per cent on sales. See {Del credere}. {Commission of array}. (Eng. Hist.) See under {Array}. {Commission of bankruptcy}, a commission appointing and empowering certain persons to examine into the facts relative to an alleged bankruptcy, and to secure the bankrupt's lands and effects for the creditors. {Commission of lunacy}, a commission authorizing an inquiry whether a person is a lunatic or not. {Commission merchant}, one who buys or sells goods on commission, as the agent of others, receiving a rate per cent as his compensation. {Commission, or Commissioned}, {officer} (Mil.), one who has a commission, in distinction from a noncommissioned or warrant officer. {Commission of the peace}, a commission under the great seal, constituting one or more persons justices of the peace. [Eng.] {To put a vessel into commission} (Naut.), to equip and man a government vessel, and send it out on service after it has been laid up; esp.,
\Com*mis"sion\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Commissioned}; p. pr & vb. n. {Commissioning}.] 1. To give a commission to; to furnish with a commission; to empower or authorize; as, to commission persons to perform certain acts; to commission an officer. 2. To send out with a charge or commission. A chosen band He first commissions to the Latian land. --Dryden. Syn: To appoint; depute; authorize; empower; delegate; constitute; ordain.