commensurate 
The aptest terms to coinnieiitttrate the longitude of places. 
Sir T. llromte, Vulg. Err., vi. 7. 
2. To adapt ; proportionate. 
CommciiKuratitifl the forms of absolution to the degrees 
of preparation ami necessity. 
Je r. Taylor, Works (ed. 183.1), II. 260. 
commensurate (kq-men'su-rat), a. [< LL. coin- 
mensuratns, pp. adj. : see the verb.] 1. Redu- 
cible to a common measure; commensurable. 
2. Ofequalsize; havingthe same boundaries. 
The inferior commissariats which had usually been com- 
mensurate with the dioceses. Chambers'* J-Jiicii?. 
3. Corresponding in amount, degree, or mag- 
nitude; adequate; proportionate to the pur- 
pose, occasion, capacity, etc. : as, we find no- 
thing in this life commensurate with our desires. 
When shall we return to a sound conception of the right 
to property namely, as being official, implying and de- 
manding the performance of commensurate duties ? 
Coleridge, Table-Talk. 
Landor, with his imaginative force unmet by any mm- 
mensurate task, wandered like " blind Orion, hungry for 
the morn." Stedman, Viet. Poets, p. 40. 
commensurately (ko-men'su-rat-li), adv. In 
a commensurate manner; so as to be commen- 
surate; correspondingly; adequately. 
commensurateness (ko-men'su-rat-nes), n. 
The state or quality of being commensurate. 
commensuration (ko-men-su-ra'shou), . [= 
F. commensuration = Sp. conmensuracion = Pg. 
eommcnsuraqflo = It. commensurazione, < LL. 
commensuratio(n-), < commensuratus : see com- 
mensurate, v.] Proportion ; the state of having 
a common measure. 
All fitness lies in a particular cointnensuration, or pro- 
portion of one thing to another. South. 
comment 1 (ko-menf or kom'ent), v. [< F. 
commeiitcr = Sp. comentar = Pg. commentar = 
It. comentare, comment, < L. commentari, con- 
sider thoroughly, think over, deliberate, dis- 
cuss, write upon, freq. of comminisci, pp. com- 
mentus, devise, contrive, invent, < com- + "mi- 
nisei (only in comp.; cf. reminiscent), an incep- 
tive verb, < \/ "men (in me-minisse, remember, 
wens, mind, etc.) = Skt. %/ man, think: see 
mind, memento, mental, etc.] I. intrans. To 
make remarks or observations, as on an action, 
an event, a proceeding, or an opinion ; espe- 
cially, to write critical or expository notes on 
the works of an author. 
Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse, 
And comment then upon his sudden death. 
SAat., 2 Hen. VI., iii. 2. 
Critics, having first taken a liking to one of these poets, 
proceed to comment on him and illustrate him. Dryden. 
I must translate and comment. Pope. 
II. trans. To make remarks or notes upon; 
expound; discuss; annotate. 
This was the text commented by Chrysostom and Theo- 
doret. Iteeves, Collation of Psalms, p. 18. 
Panini's work has been commented without end, . , . 
but never rebelled against or superseded. 
Amer. Jam. Philol., V. 280. 
comment 1 (kom'ent), . [< comment 1 , v.] 1. 
A spoken or written remark or observation ; a 
remark or note ; especially, a written note in- 
tended as a criticism, explanation, or expansion 
of a passage in a book or other writing; anno- 
tation; explanation; exposition. 
He speaks all riddle, I think. I must have a comment 
ere 1 can conceive him. B. Jonson, Case is Altered, i. 2. 
Poor Alma sits between two Stools : 
The more she reads, the more perplext : 
The Comment ruining the Text. Prior, Alma, 1. 
2. Talk or discourse upon a particular subject ; 
gossip. 
She hated all the knights, and heard in thought 
Their lavish comment when her name was named. 
Tennyson, Merlin and Vivien. 
= Syn. 1. Annotation, etc. See remark, n. 
comment 2 !, v. t. [< L. commentiri, feign, de- 
vise, < com- + mentiri, feign, lie, orig. devise, 
think out; akin to comminisci, pp. commentus, 
devise : see comment 1 , v., and mendacious.] To 
feign; devise. Spenser. 
commentary (kom'en-ta-ri), n. ; pi. commenta- 
ries (-riz). [= F. commehtaire = Sp. It. comenta- 
rio = Pg. commentario, < L. commentaries, m. 
(se. liber, a book), or commentarium, neut. (sc. 
rolumen, a volume), a commentary, explanation, 
orig. a note-book, memorandum, prop, adj., < 
commentari, write upon, comment, devise, etc. : 
see comment 1 , v.] 1. A series or collection of 
comments or annotations; especially, an ex- 
planation or elucidation of difficult and obscure 
passages in a book or other writing, and con- 
sideration of questions suggested by them, ar- 
ranged in the same order as in the text or writ- 
ing examined ; an explanatory essay or treatise : 
1128 
as, a commentari/ on the Bible. A textual com- 
mentary explains the author's meaning, sen- 
tence by sentence. Hence 2. Anything that 
serves to explain or illustrate ; an exemplifica- 
tion. 
Good life itself is but urin/uiirittarit, an exposition upon 
our preaching ; that which is first laid upon us is preach- 
ing. Donne, Sermons, v. 
3. A historical narrative ; an explanatory rec- 
ord of particular transactions: as, the Commen- 
taries of Csesar. 
" Memorials," or preparatory history, are of two sorts; 
whereof the one may be termed Commentaries, and the 
other Registers. Kacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 126. 
= Syn. See remark, n. 
commentaryt (kom'en-ta-ri), v. [< commentary, 
it.] I. intrans. To write notes or comments. 
Now a little to anmnentary vpon all these proceedings, 
let me leaue but this as a caueat by the way. 
Quoted in Capt. John Smith's True Travels, II. 26. 
II. trans. To comment upon, 
commentate (kom'en-tat), v. i.; pret. and pp. 
commentated, ppr. commentating. [< L. commcn- 
tatus, pp. of commentari, comment: see com- 
ment 1 , v.~\ To make comments ; write a com- 
mentary or annotations. [Bare.] 
Commentate upon it and return it enriched. 
Lamb, To Coleridge. 
commentation (kom-en-ta'shon), . [= It. 
comentazione, < L. commentatio(n-), < commen- 
tari, pp. commentatus, comment: see comment 1 , 
v.] The act or practice of one who comments ; 
annotation. 
The spirit of commentation turns to questions of taste, 
of metaphysics and morals, with far more avidity than to 
physics. Whewell. 
commentative (ko-men'ta-tiv), a. [< commen- 
tate + -ire.} Making or containing comments. 
commentator (kom'en-ta-tor), n. [= F. com- 
mentateur, etc., < LL. commentator, an inven- 
tor, interpreter, < L. commentari, pp. commen- 
tatus, comment: see comment 1 , v., and ef. com- 
nienter."] One who makes comments or critical 
and expository notes upon a book or other 
writing ; an expositor ; an annotator. 
I have made such expositions of my authors as no com- 
mentator will forgive me. Dnjden. 
How commentators each dark passage shun, 
And hold their farthing candles to the sun. 
Young, Satires, vii. 07. 
commentatorial (ko-men-ta-to'ri-al), a. [< 
commentator + -ial.] Relating to or character- 
istic of commentators. JVIiewell. 
commentatorship (kom'en-ta-tor-ship), n. [< 
commentator -f -ship.] The office of a commen- 
tator. 
commenter (kom'en-ter or ko-men'ter), . [< 
comment 1 + -cr 1 . Cf. commentator.] 1. One who 
comments or makes remarks about actions, opin- 
ions, etc. 2t. A commentator or annotator. 
And diners Commenters upon Daniel hold the same 
opinion. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 73. 
As slily as any commenter goes by 
Hard words or sense. Donne, Satires, ii. 
Also commentor. 
commentitioust (kom-en-tish'us), a. [< L. 
commentitins, more correctly commenticius, de- 
vised, fabricated, feigned, < commen tiri, devise a 
falsehood: see comment 2 .] Invented ; feigned ; 
imaginary; fictitious. 
So many commentitious Fables were inserted, that they 
rendered even what Truths lie [Geoffrey of Momnouth] 
wrote suspected. Baker, Clironicles, p. 1. 
Who willingly passe by that which isOrthodoxall in them, 
and studiously cull out that which is eomiamtitiout, and 
best for their turnes. Milton, Prelatical Episcopacy. 
commentitiousnesst (kom-en-tish'us-nes), . 
Counterfeituess; fictitiousness ; the state of be- 
ing fabricated. Bailey. 
commentor (kom'en-tpr), n. See commenter. 
commentyt (kom'en-tl), w. An obsolete form 
of commonty 1 . 
commerce (kom'drs), . [< F. commerce = Sp. 
comercio = Pg. It. commercio, < L. commercium, 
commerce, trade, < com-, together, + merx 
(merci-), goods, wares, merchandise, > mercari, 
trade: see merchant, mercenary.] 1. Inter- 
change of goods, merchandise, or property of 
any find; trade; traffic: used more especially 
of trade on a large scale, earned on by trans- 
portation of merchandise between different 
countries, or between different parts of the same 
country, distinguished as foreign commerce and 
internal commerce: as, the commerce between 
Great Britain and the United States, or between 
New York and Boston ; to be engaged in com- 
merce. 
A prosperous commerce is now perceived and acknow- 
ledged, by all enlightened statesmen, to be the most use- 
commercialism 
ful, as well as the most productive source of national 
wealth ; and has accordingly become primary object of 
their political cares. A. Hamilton, Federalist, JVo. 12. 
I think all the world would gain by setting commerce at 
perfect liberty. Jejferxon, Correspondence, I. 264. 
2. Social intercourse ; fellowship; mutual deal- 
ings iu common life; intercourse in general. 
Myself having had the hapjiinesse to enjoy his desirable 
commerce once since his arrival here. 
Conjat, Crudities, I. 43. 
The end of friendship is a coinmn-ci 1 the most strict and 
homely that can be joined. ... It is for aid and comfort 
through all the relations and passages of life and death. 
Emerson, Friendship. 
We know that wisdom can be won only by wide com- 
merce with men and books. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 155. 
3. Sexual intercourse. 4. A game of cards, 
played by any number of persons, in which a 
hand of five cards is dealt to each player, the two 
players having the poorest hands retiring from 
the game, this being continued until only two 
persons are left, who are declared the winners 
and receive prizes. If, during play, a person in 
the game speaks to another out of it, he forfeits 
his hand to him Active commerce. See active. 
Chamber of commerce. See chamber.- -Domestic 
commerce, commercial transactions within the limits of 
one nation or state. Interstate commerce, specifically, 
in the United States, commercial transactions and inter- 
course between persons resident in different States of the 
Union, or carried on by lines of transport extending into 
more than one State. The Constitution grants to Con- 
press the general power of regulating such commerce. 
Passive commerce. See active commerce, under active. 
= Syn. 1. Business. 2. Communication; communion; 
intercourse. 
commerce (ko-mers'), c. '. ; pret. and pp. com- 
merced, ppr. commercing. [< F. commercer = 
Sp. comereiar = Pg. eommerciar = It. commer- 
ciare, < ML. eommerciare, LL. commerciari, 
trade, traffic, < L. commercium, commerce : see 
commerce, n.] If. To traffic ; carry on trade ; 
deal. Sir W. Ilalciijn. 
Always beware you commerce not with bankrupts. 
B. Jonattn, Every Man out of his Humour, i. 1. 
2. To hold social intercourse ; commune. 
Looks commercing with the skies, 
Thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes. 
Milton, II Penseroso, 1. 39. 
Some will not that we should live, breathe, and com- 
merce as men, because we are not such modelled Chris- 
tians as they coercively would have us. 
Penn, Liberty of Conscience, v. 
Hid his face 
From all men, and commercing with himself, 
He lost the sense that handles daily life. 
Tennyson, Walking to the Mall. 
commerceablet (ko-mer'sa-bl), a. [< commerce, 
v., + -alle.] Suitable for traffic. Monmouth, 
quoted by F. Hall. 
commerceless (kom'ers-les), a. [< commerce + 
-less.] Destitute of commerce. [Rare.] 
The savage commerce!*** nations of America. 
J. Tucker, To Kames. 
commercer (kp-mer'ser), n. 1. One who traf- 
fics with another. 2. One who holds social 
intercourse or communes with another. 
commercial (ko-mer'shal), a. [< commerce + 
-ial; = F. commercial, etc.] 1. Pertaining or 
relating to commerce or trade ; of the nature 
of commerce: as, commercial concerns; com- 
mercial relations ; a commercial transaction. 
2. Carrying on commerce ; characterized by de- 
votion to commerce: as, a commercial commu- 
nity. 3. Proceeding or accruing from trade: 
as, commercial benefits or profits. 4. Devoted 
to commerce : as, a commercial career. 5. Pre- 
pared for the market, or merely as an article of 
commerce; hence, not entirely or chemically 
pure: as, commercial soda, silver, etc. Com- 
mercial agent, an officer, with or without consular ju- 
risdiction, stationed at a foreign port for the purpose of 
attending to the commercial interests of the country he 
represents. Commercial law, the body of law which 
relates to commerce, such as the law of shipping, bills of 
exchange, insurance, brokerage, etc. The body of rules 
constituting this law is to a great extent the same through- 
out the commercial world, the rules, treatises, and de- 
cisions of one country, with due allowance for local differ- 
ences of commercial usage, being in general applicable to 
the questions arising in any other. Commercial letter, 
a size of writing-paper, 11 x 17 inches when unfolded. 
Small commercial letter is 10J x 16J inches. (U. S.J 
Commercial note, a size of writing-paper, 8 x 10 inches 
when unfolded. [U. 8.] Commercial paper, negotiable 
paper, such as drafts, bills of exchange, etc., given in the 
due course of business. Commercial room, a public 
room in the hotels of Great Britain, set apart for the use 
of commercial travelers. Commercial traveler, a trav- 
eling agent for a wholesale business house, selling from 
samples; a drummer. =Syn. See mercantile. 
commercialism (ko-mer'shal-izm), n. [< com- 
mercial + -ism.] "1. The maxims and meth- 
ods of commerce or of commercial men ; strict 
business principles. 
The buy-cheap-and-sell-dear commercialism in which he 
had been brought up. Kingsley, Alton Locke, uxix. 
