command
UK /kəˈmɑːnd/ · US /kəˈmænd/ noun, verb
Forms commands commanding commanded commandest commandedst commandeth
- noun An order to do something. “I was given a command to cease shooting.”
- noun The right or authority to order, control or dispose of; the right to be obeyed or to compel obedience.
- noun power of control, direction or disposal; mastery. “he had command of the situation”
- noun A position of chief authority; a position involving the right or power to order or control. “General Smith was placed in command.”
- noun The act of commanding; exercise or authority of influence.
- noun (military) A body or troops, or any naval or military force, under the control of a particular officer; by extension, any object or body in someone's charge.
- noun Dominating situation; range or control or oversight; extent of view or outlook.
- noun (computing) A directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task.
- verb (ambitransitive) To order, give orders; to compel or direct with authority. “The soldier was commanded to cease firing.”
- verb (ambitransitive) To have or exercise supreme power, control or authority over, especially military; to have under direction or control.
- verb (transitive) To require with authority; to demand, order, enjoin.
- verb (transitive) to dominate through ability, resources, position etc.; to overlook. “This observation deck commands a breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay.”
- verb (transitive) To exact, compel or secure by influence; to deserve, claim. “A good magistrate commands the respect and affections of the people.”
- verb (transitive) To hold, to control the use of. “The fort commanded the bay.”
- verb (ambitransitive, archaic) To have a view (of), as from a superior position.
- verb (obsolete) To direct to come; to bestow.
Synonyms
behest injunction bidding commandment decree demand dictate diktat directive direction edict fiat hest instruction irade mandate order precept ruling ukase bid dictation control mastery statement program line require dominate overlook overtop
Etymology
From Middle English commanden, commaunden, comaunden, comanden, from Old French comander, from Late Latin commandāre, from Latin commendāre. Ultimately from Latin com- + mandō (whence ultimately also commend (a doublet), mandate, and recommend), from manus + -dō.
Compare typologically Russian поручи́ть (poručítʹ), поруче́ние (poručénije), руководи́ть (rukovodítʹ), руководи́тель (rukovodítelʹ) related to рука́ (ruká).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge.
- verb To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead.
- verb To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to sway; to influence; to give an order or orders.
- verb To have a view, as from a superior position.
Etymology [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF. comander, F. commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to, to command. Cf. Commend, Mandate.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “command”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details