For forms see v. [cf. F. commande 13th c. (= Pr. comanda), f. commander to COMMAND; but the English word does not certainly appear before 16th c., so that it may have been formed here on the verb: cf. demand, order, call, and the modern invite.
(An apparent example in Cursor M. (Fairf.), 13848, is perh. an error for couenand covenant, as in Cott. MS.)]
1. The act of commanding; the utterance or expression of an authoritative order or injunction; bidding.
1591. Shaks., Two Gentl., IV. iii. 5. One that attends your Ladiships command.
1611. Bible, Job xxxix. 27. Doeth the Eagle mount vp at thy commaund?
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xiii. 44. I am always willing to obey your commands.
1832. Austin, Jurispr. (1879), I. i. 91. A command is a signification of desire; but is distinguished … by this peculiarity: that the party to whom it is directed is liable to evil from the other, in case he comply not with the desire.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xii. 171. Her suggestion being fully understood to be a command.
b. In various phrases, as at one’s command, on command, etc. Word of command: see quot. 1853.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iv. 198. What we will do, we do vpon command. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr., III. ii. 224. They shall goe forward Kate at thy command.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 15. The next thing to be observed … is the Words of Command with readiness to answer and obey.
1811. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., VII. 544. The appointment, by command of the Prince Regent, of Major General Alten.
1853. Stocqueler, Mil. Encycl., s.v., The orders … for certain motions, manœuvres, or evolutions, are called the ‘word of command.’ Ibid., Officers or troops absent from quarters are said to be ’on command.’
2. An order authoritatively made and remaining in force, a COMMANDMENT.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 28. The x. Commandis. Ibid., 95. The Sevint Command … Thow sall nocht steil.
1586. Q. Eliz., Lett., in Hist. Eng. (1702), II. 53. We little thought that one We had raised out of the Dust would … haue slighted and broken our Commands.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 553. As Papists have done with the second Command.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 652. God so commanded, and left that Command.
1722. De Foe, Moll Fl. (1840), 120. It is ill venturing too near the brink of a command.
1835. Lytton, Rienzi, I. iii. But the command is hard.
3. The faculty of commanding; exercise of authority; rule, control, sway; spec. that of a military or naval commander. Also fig.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 624. Hast thou command? Ibid. (1604), Oth., V. ii. 331. Your Power, and your Command is taken off. Ibid. (1608), Per., III. i. 3. Thou, that hast Upon the winds command.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. i. 1321. The Queen of Night, whose large Command Rules all the sea and half the Land.
1685. Dryden, Misc., II. Pref. He [Lucretius] is every where confident of his own Reason, and assuming an absolute Command not only over his vulgar Reader, but even his Patron Memmius.
1780. Cowper, Table-t., 354. Men … raised to station and command. Ibid. (1781–3), Lily & Rose, 13. The Lily’s height bespoke command.
1813. Byron, Br. Abydos, II. ix. High command Spake in his eye.
b. with its scope defined by of.
1661. Cowley, Cromwell, Wks. (1688), 71. A Title to the Command of three Nations.
1666. Pepys, Diary (1879), IV. 127. [To] have the command of a ship.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. xvii. 74. The military Command of the old imperial City.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. 546. They required for the Parliament the command of the army and fleet for twenty years.
c. with a and pl. Authority.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 244. How in one house Should many people, vnder two commands, Hold amity?
d. Phrases.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. Pref. to Rdr. **2. 200 French ships, vnder the commaund of Captaine Henry Pay.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 534. A man of great command in this Countie.
c. 1639. Roxb. Ballads, VI. 429. A battel fought upon the seas, by a ship of brave command.
1779. Gentl. Mag., XLIX. 58. Having a fleet of thirty ships of war under his command.
1853. Stocqueler, Mil. Encycl., s.v., An officer at the head of a troop … garrison … or detachment is ‘in command.’
4. Power of control, disposal, or direction; mastery; possession with full power to use. Command of language, words, etc.: facility of expression.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xviii. 430. No man had better command of rain and sunshine in his face.
1658. J. Robinson, Eudoxa, i. 11. The choice … is within the command of our will.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. i. 20. The … priest behaved himself with great command of his passion.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 189. The familiar use, and absolute command, of the Latin language.
c. 1850. Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.), 37. I had sufficient command over myself to suppress my emotions.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 231. Having gifts of courage … and command of money and friends.
1878. J. W. Ebsworth, Introd. to Braithwaite’s Strappado, p. xxvi. Our only surprise is that he has not taken his place higher, in the ranks of poetic Satirists, as he deserved, while men inferior to him in command of words, and less impressed with an indignant scorn against uncleanness, are belauded, if not read, as though they were the masters of their art.
b. At command: ready to receive or obey orders; under one’s control; at one’s service or disposal; available to use, spend, etc.
1584. Walsingham, in Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. v. § 9. And so I humbly take my leave. Your Graces at command, Francis Walsingham.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 83. His house, his lands, his purse … were all at his command.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. ii. 45. Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command.
1630. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 61. Hee is held the only wise man, who hath the world at most command.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric., xii. § 6 (1681), 246. With your Spaniel well instructed, and at command.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 76, ¶ 1. Yet has he seldom a guinea at command.
1862. Thackeray, in Cornh. Mag., V. June, 649. Such, in fact, was the opinion given by the reader’s very humble servant at command.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 167. An absolute monarch, with the most perfect military machine at his command.
5. ‘Cogent authority, despotism’ (J.); coercion.
1692. Locke, Educ., 243. For Command and Force may often create, but can never cure an Aversion.
1854. H. Spencer, Soc. Stat., 180. Command cannot be otherwise than savage, for it implies an appeal to force, should force be needful.
6. The power of dominating surrounding country in virtue of elevated or strategic position; used lit. of the gunshot range of military positions, and also in various transferred senses.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit. (1868), 23. I … gott my fleete out of command of the fortes.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. v. 18. Within command of the flaming swords.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3937/4. Of the whole Fleet only 4 escaped, by getting under the Command of Granville Fort.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. App. 753. His command of the passes of the Alps.
b. spec. in Fortification (see quots.).
1823. Crabb, Technol. Dict., s.v., A command in front, when any eminence is directly facing the work which it commands. A command in rear … A command by enfilade.
1830. E. S. N. Campbell, Dict. Mil. Sc., 40, s.v., The Command of the Bastion over the surrounding country is nineteen feet.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 202. Command … the height of the top of the parapet of a work above the level of the country.
1888. Times, 20 Aug., 12/1. The Woolwich guns have, the one a command—i. e. a height above the ground of 3 ft. 6 in.
c. Range of vision, outlook, prospect.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, VII. 662.
| New Frauds invents, and takes a steepy Stand, | |
| Which overlooks the Vale with wide Command. |
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 290. The eye … posted on this speculative height Exults in its command.
d. in Cards. See quot. and cf. COMMAND v. 16.
1874. Mod. Hoyle, 22. You get rid of the command of your partner’s strong suit most readily by leading your highest of the suit.
1880. A. Campbell-Walker, Correct Card, Gloss, Command of a suit, having the best cards of that suit.
7. A position in which one commands; esp. a military or naval commander’s post.
[Cf. 1604 in 3.]
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., x. (1691), 115. Commands in our ordinary Army and Navy.
1764. Croker, Dict. Arts, Command, in the royal navy, implies the rank and power of an officer who has the management of a ship of war.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 58. The places and commands which he held under the Crown.
1863. Ruskin, Munera P. (1880), 136. Let us sell the commands of our prospective battles … to the lowest bidder.
1886. Whitaker’s Almanack, 159. District Commands (Home), Aldershot. Ibid., 191. Navy Pay … Admiral (home command) £1,825.
8. The body of troops under a commander.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, 90. To ride with me him most humbly praying With his command.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. vi. 84. Foure shall quickly draw out my Command, Which men are best inclin’d.
1745. Earl Shaftesb., in Priv. Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury, I. 15. Sir John Ligonier is going from hence with a large command (I am told near 10,000 men).
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. xli. 55. Colonel Dodge ordered the command to halt.
9. The district under a commander; or, more generally, under the lordship of any one.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 381. Bury mee … not heere, but in some of your owne commands.
1684. 1st Dk. Beaufort’s Progr. Wales (1864), 1. The generall visitation of his Commands.
1716. Lond. Gaz., No. 5402/3. A Noble Command for Game, about 20 Miles in Circumference.
1891. Times, 1 June, 5/1. The city of Paris is to be divided into four commands.
10. Comb., as command-in-chief, supreme military charge (cf. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF); command-night, the night on which a theatrical performance, etc., is given by (royal) command.
1859. Lang, Wand. India, 363. I am to have the command-in-chief at Bombay.
1888. Spectator, 30 June, 877/1. The direct command-in-chief of a million soldiers.
