commend

English

Etymology

From Middle English commenden, from Old French comender, from Latin commendō (“commend, entrust to, commit, recommend”), from com- + mandō (“to commit, intrust, enjoin”), from manus (“hand”) + dō (“to put”). Doublet of command.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kəˈmɛnd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛnd

Verb

commend (third-person singular simple present commends, present participle commending, simple past and past participle commended)

1. (transitive) To congratulate or reward.

   The schoolboy was commended for raising the alarm about the burning building.

2. (transitive) To praise or acclaim.
   • 1485 – Thomas Malory. Le Morte Darthur, Book X, Chapter xliiij, leaf 242v

     Thenne Quene Gueneuer commended hym and soo dyd alle other good knyghtes made moche of hym excepte sire Gawayns bretheren /

     "Then Queen Guenever commended him, and so did all other good knights make much of him, except Sir Gawaine’s brethren."

   • 1697, Virgil, “”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. , London: Jacob Tonson, , →OCLC, page :

     Segrais on this Subject of a Heroe's ſhedding Tears, obſerves that Hiſtorians commend Alexander for weeping, when he read the mighty Actions of Achilles.

3. (transitive) To entrust or commit to the care of someone else.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Luke 23:46:

     Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.

4. (transitive) To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and goodwill.
   • 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Commend me to my brother.

5. (transitive) To recommend.
   • a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, , published 1677, →OCLC:

     Among the objects of knowledge, two especially […] commend themselves to our contemplation.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Romans 16:1:

     I commend vnto you Phebe our sister, which is a seruant of the Church which is at Cenchrea:

6. (transitive, dated) To adorn; to set off.

Related terms

• commendable
• commendation
• commendatory
• recommend

Translations

See also

• suggest
• consider
• approval

Noun

commend (plural commends)

1. (obsolete) Commendation; praise.
   • c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. , London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon,  , published 1609, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

     He had need meane better, then his outward ſhew
     Can any way ſpeake in his iuſt commend:

2. (obsolete, in the plural) Compliments; greetings.
   • 1655, James Howell, “to Dr. Thomas Prichard at Worcester House”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. , 3rd edition, volume (please specify the page), London: Humphrey Mosley, , →OCLC:

     Hearty commends and much endeared love unto you.

Further reading

• “commend”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “commend”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “commend”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.