commission

com•mis•sion

[[t]kəˈmɪʃ ən[/t]] n.

1) the act of committing or giving in charge

2) an authoritative order, charge, or direction

3) authority granted for a particular action or function

4) a document granting such authority

5) mil a document conferring authority issued by the president of the U.S. to officers in the military services and by state governments to justices of the peace, etc

6) mil the position or rank of an officer in any of the armed forces

7) gov a group of persons authoritatively charged with particular functions:

a parks commission[/ex]

8) a task or matter committed to one's charge; official assignment:

The architect received a commission to design an office building[/ex]

9) the act of committing or perpetrating a crime, error, etc

10) something that is committed

11) bus authority to act as agent for another or others in commercial transactions

12) bus a sum or percentage allowed to agents, sales representatives, etc., for their services

13) to give a commission to

14) to authorize; send on a mission

15) mil to order (a warship, military command, etc.) into readiness for active duty

16) to give a commission or order for:

to commission a painting for the lobby[/ex]

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- in (or out of) commission

Etymology: 1300–50; ME (< AF) < L commissiō commencement of a contest < committ(ere)(see commit) com•mis′sion•a•ble, adj. com•mis′sion•al, adj. com•mis′sive, adj. com•mis′sive•ly, adv.