| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| commission |
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| SYLLABICATION: | com·mis·sion |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  k -m sh n |
| NOUN: | 1a. The act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty. b. The authority so granted. c. The matter or task so authorized: Investigation of fraud was their commission. d. A document conferring such authorization. 2a. A group of people officially authorized to perform certain duties or functions: The Federal Trade Commission investigates false advertising. b. often Commission A ruling council within the Mafia that adjudicates family disputes and regulates family activities. 3. The act of committing or perpetrating: the commission of a crime. 4. A fee or percentage allowed to a sales representative or an agent for services rendered. 5a. An official document issued by a government, conferring on the recipient the rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces. b. The rank and powers so conferred. | | TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: com·mis·sioned, com·mis·sion·ing, com·mis·sions
1. To grant a commission to. See synonyms at authorize. 2. To place an order for: commissioned a new symphony for the festival. 3. To put (a ship) into active service. | | IDIOMS: | in commission 1. In active service. Used of a ship. 2. In use or in usable condition. on commission With a sales commission serving as full or partial recompense for the work done: sells boats on commission. out of commission 1. Not in active service. Used of a ship. 2. Not in use or working condition. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English commissioun, from Latin commissi , commissin-, from commissus, past participle of committere, to entrust. See commit. | | OTHER FORMS: | com·mission·a·ble —ADJECTIVE
com·mission·al —ADJECTIVE
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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