Forms: 3–5 comaund(e, 3–6 comand(e, 3–7 commaund(e, -ande, (4 comandi, komand(e, 5 co(m)mawnd, -ound, -awunde), 3– command. Also 3 cumaund, 3–5 -and(e, (5 cummawunde). Pa. t. and pple. commanded, (formerly, 4 cumand, komande, 4–5 comand(e, -aund(e, 5 commaunde). [ME. coma(u)nde-n, a. OF. cumande-r, comande-r (= Pr., Sp. comandar, It. commandāre):—late L. or Romanic commandā-re, f. com- intensive + mandāre to commit, give in charge, enjoin.
The primary sense of L. mandāre (f. manus hand + dare to give) was ‘to give into any one’s hand or charge,’ a sense retained by the ancient compound commendāre to COMMEND, the vowel-change in which shows its prehistoric antiquity. In late historic times, new compounds were formed on the type of the simple verb, as demandāre, remandāre, and in still later, commandāre, which also took the later sense of the simple mandāre, ‘to order, enjoin.’ Commendāre and commandāre occur indiscriminately, in both senses, in med. Latin (see Du Cange). In OF. cumander, comander was both ‘to commend’ and ‘to command’; and so in ME. Subsequently the former sense became obs. in both: in Fr. being taken up by the new compound recommander; in English for this sense commend was taken afresh from Latin, and recomaund at length assimilated to it as recommend.]
I. Simple sense. trans. To order, enjoin, bid with authority or influence. Properly said of persons, but also fig. of things.
The original complete construction was with accusative of the thing enjoined and dative of the person to whom the injunction is given: L. hoc tibi mando, commendo; Fr. je le lui commande. In ME. the dative was sometimes expressed by to, ‘all thingis that I comaunde to thee,’ but usually without it; hence the construction was formally two objects, ‘I command thee this,’ the distinction of which as indirect and direct, has tended in many cases to be lost sight of. Either object may be unexpressed, leaving the other apparently as the sole object. The original accusative is often represented by a clause or infinitive phrase, ‘I command him to come, or that he come’; in which case the remaining personal object is apt to be viewed as direct, although it is historically a dative; cf. F. commande aux esclaves de venir, command (to) the slaves to come. Either object, if it be a sb. or pronoun, may become the subject in the passive voice; ‘that which is commanded,’ ‘he is commanded to go.’
1. with direct and indirect object (the latter formerly often with to).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6809. Noght þat allon i comande ȝou.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 258. [It] that commaundyt is him to.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. i. 17. Alle thingus that I comaunde to thee.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 2. (MS. Harl. 3490). [I] me recommaunde To him [Richard II.] which all me may commaunde.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 48 b. To command obedyence to other.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 271. Will your Grace command mee any seruice to the worlds end.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xxi. 2. The king hath commanded me a businesse.
1615. Bedwell, Moham. Imp., II. § 62. A iust man doth not command to another man, any thing but that which he doth vnderstand.
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd. (1822), 70. You shall … be commanded a greater matter.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 747. Defaming what God … commands to som, leaves free to all.
Mod. What the Queen commands you, must be done.
† b. with the direct object expressed by a clause (or sentence). Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20687. Now i cumaund þe Mi moder bodi kep wel to me.
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (A.), 203. He … him hete & comandi Þat he in to chaumber went.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IV. 8. Comaunde him þat he come.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxiv. 110. He comaunded to all … þat þai schuld forsake all þat þai had.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 66. Be stylle, beshers, I commawnd you.
1611. Bible, Neh. xiii. 20. I commanded the Leuites that they should cleanse themselues.
c. with direct object represented by an infinitive (formerly with for to; also often, as in Shaks., without to: cf. bid them go).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5986. Als he has comanded vs to do.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 236. Of what kin he were kome [he] komanded him telle.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 477. This child I am comanded for to take.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxii. 119. Þus ȝe comaunded youre knyghtis for to saie.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. vi. 12. Command the Citizens make Bonfires.
1594. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, IV. iii. The dream … Commands me leave these unrenowmed reams [realms].
1605. Camden, Rem., 21. Cardinall Wolsey … commaunded all his servaunts to vse no French.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 3. The Scriptures we are commanded to search.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, II. viii. 169. He then commanded his men to row up to that side.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 260. The Princess Anne … had commanded him to assure her illustrious relatives at the Hague that [etc.].
d. in place of the infinitive there is occasionally a sb. with to, ‘to command a person to a thing,’ thus reversing the original construction. arch. or Obs. (cf. sense 6).
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. ii. 377. These [stoppes] cannot I command to any vtterance of hermony. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. i. 23. If you can command these Elements to silence.
1724. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 62. Your majesty may command me to anything.
2. With the indirect object only: = To give commandment (to); to order, charge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6816 (Cott.). Als i haue comanded to þe [later MS. comaundide þe].
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 434. Þer weren noon ordre, but ilche man myȝte ylyche comaunde to oþer. Ibid. (1382), Josh. i. 9. I comaunde to thee [præcipio tibi] tak coumfort. Ibid., i. 10. Josue comaundide to the pryncis of the puple, seiynge.
1611. Bible, Gen. xlix. 33. Iacob had made an end of commanding his sonnes.
1625. Burges, Pers. Tithes, 68. God gaue authoritie to the Husband to command his Wife in lawfull things.
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. iv. (1840), 111. He can speak nothing but as God shall command him.
3. With the direct object only: To bid, order, ordain, appoint, prescribe. a. object a sb. or pron.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10676 (Cott.). It was … commandid in þair ald lai. Ibid., 12639. Þat þai comaund wald or bide … he dide.
c. 1400. Maundev. xxiii. (1839), 254. What so euere ȝee commanden, it schall be don.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., iv. 10 (Harl. MS.). I seide … þat if too Ivelis wer commaundid, þe lesse were to be chosyne.
1549. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, 87. Make vs to loue that whiche thou doest commaunde.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. v. 101. Sir Pierce … commands the contrary. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., V. i. 463. It was commanded so.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. vii. 272. He searcheth whether malice did not command that oath.
1793. Blackstone, Comm. (ed. 12), 296. That court had power to command the execution of it.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. II. i. 167. The rule of life which religion commands.
b. object a clause (or sentence).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2431 (Cott.). Þe king … commaunded thoruout al his land Men suld him mensk. Ibid., 4417. Putefar þan comanded son Þat ioseph suld be tan.
a. 1400. Isumbras, 265. The sowdane … command that they solde be broghte.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 50 (Mätz.). The fyft commaundes, thou shalle forsake Fornycayon.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iv. 201.
1611. Bible, Neh. xiii. 19. I commanded that the gates should be shut.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 531. Then strait commands that at the warlike sound … be upreard His mighty Standard.
Mod. The Queen has commanded that specimens be submitted to her.
† c. object an infin. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 63. Þan comandid Harald Þo londes to destroie.
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 548. The emperour comandede anone, Afftir the childe for to goon.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 34 b. [He] commanded to sadle his hors.
1611. Bible, Matt. xix. 7. Why did Moses then command to giue a writing of diuorcement.
d. The object is often a sb. or pronoun with infin. passive: thus, instead of ‘he commanded (some one) to bring the prisoners,’ or ‘he commanded that the prisoners should be brought,’ the usual phrase is, ‘he commanded the prisoners to be brought,’ where the italicized words are historically only the direct object; but the construction simulates that in 1 b, ‘he commanded the men to be silent (= he commanded them silence), where both objects are actually present.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xviii. 25. His lord comaundide hym to be sold [so all 16th c. vv. (exc. Rhem. ‘commaunded that he should be sold’) and Revised 1881].
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 120. Octavyan … comaundyd al the World to be discryvyd as subgett unto hym.
1509. Fisher, Fun. Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. 296. Ordynaunces … whiche … she commaunded to be redde.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 33. [Darius] commaunded this sentence to be grauen in his tombe.
1611. Bible, Acts xxv. 6. He … commanded Paul to be brought [so all vv.].
4. absol. With no object: To perform the action of commanding; to give commandments.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 29111 (Cott. Galba MS.). We may ensawmple tell how crist cumandes in his godspell.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 347. It is right esy to commaunde.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 345. The King that may command, intreats.
1625. Burges, Pers. Tithes, 66. Hee … beleeues the Magistrate doth neuer command till he smite.
1847. Tennyson, Princ., V. 440. Man to command, and woman to obey.
5. fig. in all constructions.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. IX. 230. So commaundeþ treuthe.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 34. Love … Comaundeth me, that it be so.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 584. My sick heart commands mine eyes to watch.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 12. Riches are passed away … As fortune, vice, or folly may command.
II. ellipt. Involving the sense of a verb of motion, of giving, etc.
6. To order to come or go to, from, into, upon (a place or action), away, here, home, etc. Tο command from: to order to depart or refrain from.
(Cf. To order goods, order any one home, away, off, out.)
c. 1410. Sir Cleges, 373. He commaundyd Sir Cleges to mete.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 183. The king … commaunded him to Prison.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 335. I Sir am Dromio, command him away. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, II. i. 27. I am commanded here. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., IV. iii. 151. Command these fretting waters from your eies.
1620. Horæ Subseciuæ, 469. You see I could not command these waues from touching me.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. lxii. (1739), 125. To command a Tenant into War against his own Lord.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., Wks. 1851, V. 72. Commanded home for doing too much.
1688. Jer. Collier, Sev. Disc. (1725), 159. When he [a soldier] is commanded upon a hazardous Action.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. ix. 214. I … charged them to command them off.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round W., x. (1757), 294. Coming … within reach of our musquets, we with them commanded her on board of us.
b. fig. To cause to come; to send with authority.
1611. Bible, Lev. xxv. 21. I will command [Vulg. dabo, Wycl. give, Coverd. send] my blessing vpon you.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 669. See me sworn to serve thee [Truth], and command A painter’s skill into a poet’s hand.
† c. techn. To cause to move, drive, actuate. Obs.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 179. Besides the commanding heavy Work about, the Wheel rids Work faster off than the Pole can do. Ibid., 200. Your Leg may … command the Pole down again.
† 7. To order to be given; to demand with authority. Sometimes of or from a person. Obs.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 15. All that may be, commaund and looke for at my handes.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., V. i. 49. Let my Soueraigne … Command my eldest Sonne, nay all my sonnes, as pledges. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., I. v. 9. I beseech your Grace … wherefore you have commanded of me these most poysonous Compounds.
1786. Mrs. A. M. Bennet, Juv. Indiscretions, V. 122. He presented, at her command, a rose that he gathered … Again a flower was commanded.
III. To have power to order; to have at or under command or disposal; to control, dominate.
8. trans. To have authority over; to be master of; to hold in control or subjection; to sway, rule.
(The object was orig. dative as in 2; hence in ME. with to.)
1382. Wyclif, Judg. ix. 13 [12]. The trees speken to the viyn, Com, and comaunde to vs [impera nobis]. Ibid., Dan. ii. 39. The thrid rewme … whiche shal comaunde to al erthe.
1590. Marlowe, Edw. II., II. ii. The haughty Dane commands the narrow seas.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. i. 38. Thou art Protector, And lookest to command the Prince and Realme.
1630. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 373. The Knights of Jerusalem … command all in all here.
1776. C. Lee, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), I. 153. Whoever commands the sea commands the town.
1808. J. Barlow, Columb., II. 601. Tigers fierce command the shuddering wood.
fig. 1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. i. 32. This other [Key] doth command a little doore.
1780. Cowper, Table-t., 481. The mind that can … command the lyre.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., lxxxviii. My harp would prelude woe—I cannot all command the strings.
b. absol.; rarely with over.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. i. 9. Vertue he had, deseruing to command.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 75. The great Cham … commandeth ouer one of the greatest … Empires of the World.
1605. Camden, Rem., 4. The Kings of England have commaunded from … Orkney to the Pyrene Mountaines.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xi. (1675), 238. It is … requisite that the Prince know how to command well.
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 302. Persons … born to command.
fig. 1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. Where and when your Religion hath most absolutely commanded … Atheisme hath most abounded.
1866. in Spurgeon, Treas. David, Ps. lxiii. Imperial Psalms, that command over all affections.
9. To be commander or captain of (a force, fortress, ship, or the like).
1594. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, IV. iv. Æneas may command as many Moors As in the sea are little water-drops.
1605. Shaks., Macb., V. ii. 19. Those he commands, moue onely in command, Nothing in loue.
1795. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 307. This city … was commanded by governor Carleton.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson, 11. Captain Lutwidge commanded another bomb-vessel.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, I. 140. To dispose of all the beaver they take, to the trader who commands the camp.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 633. He still continued to command his old soldiers.
b. absol. To be commander, have the command.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, III. vi. 57. A disaster of warre that Cæsar him selfe could not haue preuented, if he had beene there to command.
1724. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 266. Colonel Forbes … commanded at the siege.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, Hist. Servia, 279. No Nenadowitsch now commanded on the Drina.
10. To be master of (oneself, one’s emotions, feelings, etc.); to hold in check, control, restrain (the passions). Formerly also with over.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1594), 316. He enjoyeth true tranquillitie … commanding over the unpure affections of the flesh.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. v. Tis reasons glorie to commaund affects.
1621. Fletcher, Pilgrim, V. iv. Command thyself, and then thou’rt right. Command thy will, thy foul desires … Command thy mind, and make that pure.
1706. J. Logan, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., X. 162. He cannot command himself.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Mor. T. (1876), I. xv. 126. F. commanded his temper.
1833. T. Hook, Widow & Marquess (1842), 85. Can I command my feelings?
11. To have (a thing) at one’s bidding, or within one’s power for use or enjoyment; to have at disposal or within one’s reach or grasp.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 463. It is in mine authoritie to command The Keyes of all the Posternes.
1625. Massinger, New Way, II. ii. Could you not command your leisure one hour longer?
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xiv. 412. Those who deserve no beere may command the best wine.
1713. Addison, Cato, I. ’Tis not in mortals to command success, But we’ll do more Sempronius, we’ll deserve it.
c. 1790. J. Willock, Voy., ix. 273. The safest … passage … lies through these islands, as, in case of a storm, ships can always command a port.
1794. Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 247. It is not every day I can command that sum [fifty guineas].
1817. Malthus, Popul., I. 34, note. Such an increase as will enable the mass of the society to command more food.
1881. J. Russell, Haigs, iii. 39. All the skill which the sculptor could command.
12. To have (a person or his services) at one’s call or disposal.
1561. Awdelay, Frat. Vocab., 10. If euer he may do him any frendship … he shal commaund him.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 23. Command me while I liue. Ibid. (1593), 2 Hen. VI., IV. v. 7. Such ayd as I can spare you shall command.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., xix. 147. If any of us can be of use … you sure ought to command us.
b. phr. Yours (etc.) to command († to be commanded): i.e., for you to command or dispose of.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 164 b. The somme of the Archebyshoppes letters was … that he is all his to commaunde.
1575. Ferrers, in Gascoigne’s Princely Pleas. (1821), 9. The Lake, the Lodge, the Lord, are yours now to command.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary (1625), 15. Which Subscription … shall passe in this or the like Order:… Your L[ordships] in whatsoever to be commanded … Your Honours ever to be commanded, etc.
1626. in Lithgow, Trav., x. (1682), 467. Your Lordships to command to serve you.
1859. W. Collins, After Dark, I. 85. Mum’s the word, sir, with yours to command, Thomas Boxsious.
13. To secure by just claim or rightful title: to exact, compel (respect, confidence, sympathy, etc.).
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 8. This place commands my patience.
1771. Junius Lett., lix. 306. A great man commands the affection of the people.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Mor. T. (1816), I. 225. She … must … command your sympathy.
1871. Smiles, Charac., i. 9. They will … command the confidence which they really deserve.
1885. Spectator, 18 July, 943/2. His literary criticisms … when they fail to command our assent, nearly always command our admiration.
14. To dominate by reason of (superior) local or strategic position; to control by overlooking or over-topping; spec. said of the artillery of a fortified eminence. Also intr. with over.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 1228. The place itself was … impregnable … by reason that it commanded over the Danubie.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Truth (Arb.), 501. The vantage ground of Truth: a hill not to be commanded.
1694. Narborough, Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1711), 109. The Guns cannot command from one Side to the other.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., III. VIII. 90. Strong castles which commanded the principle defiles.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, VIII. 600. A strong-built tower, commanding o’er the Loire.
a. 1842. Arnold, Later Hist. Rome (1846), I. vii. 273. Steep cliffs overhanging the sea, and … commanding a small harbour.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1863), I. i. 7. The … Spanish Peninsula … commanding the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
b. To have within range of vision, look down upon or over, overlook.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 409. His Head the Hills commands.
1780. Cowper, Table-t., 581. An ell or two of prospect we command.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., V. ii. Commanding the rich scenes beneath, The windings of the Forth and Teith.
1874. Ruskin, Stones Ven., I. Pref. 7. My bedroom window commanded … a very lovely view.
c. absol.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, II. 198. A princely Castle in the mid’st commands.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 614.
1763. Scrafton, Indostan (1770), 66. A battery … which would have commanded to the Lake.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 3. Far as human optics may command.
15. To cover (with a gun, fowling-piece, etc.).
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric., xii. (1681), 252. You may command her [Pheasant] at pleasure with your Fowling-piece. Ibid., 253. A Bird … somewhat troublesome to discover, whereby to command him by a Fowling-piece.
16. To command a suit of cards: see quot.
1862. ‘Cavendish’ [H. Jones], Whist (1870), 28. A suit is commanded … by the hand that holds a sufficient number of winning cards in it to make every trick.
1874. Mod. Hoyle, 12. The ten and the nine command that suit.
† IV. 17. = COMMEND. Obs.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2411. Comaundez me to þat cor tays, your comlych fere.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1333. Vn-to ȝoure mekill maieste my modire I comande.
c. 1400. Melayne, 298. Comande me till oure gentill kynge.
1444. Paston Lett., I. 60. Right worchepfull cosyn I comand me to you.
c. 1450. Merlin, viii. 130. Kynge Ban and his brother … Comaunded theire londes in the kepynge of Leonces.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 2801. The knycht, the wich in to hir keping vas, Sche had commandit to hir cussynece.
b. To command to God: to commend to His keeping; cf. ‘To say adieu!’ or ‘good bye!’
c. 1450. Merlin, iv. 72. So he hym comaunded to god, and bad hym come on the morowe.
1484. Caxton, Curiall (1888), 16. To god I comande the by thys wrytyng.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. x. 10. They … commaunded themselfe into the kepyng of God. Ibid. (c. 1530), Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 168. So he toke his leue of the ladye, and she commaunded hym to God.
