Obs. (In sense 1, a. F. commende, corresp. to It. and med.L. commenda a benefice given in charge to any one (see COMMENDAM), lit. ‘a deposit, charge,’ f. commendāre to give in charge, entrust, etc.: see prec. In the other senses it may have been formed immed. from the verb in Eng. or Sc.]
1. Eccl. = COMMENDAM 1. In commend, to commend: in commendam. Sc.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 1128. The rent at will he [king off Ingland] gaiff [that byschop] in commend. Ibid., I. 172. Glaskow thai gaif … To dyocye in Duram to commend.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VIII. Prol. 108. Ane kinrik of paroch kyrkis cuppillit with commendis.
b. Feudal protection: see COMMEND v. 7. Sc.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 1072. The lord Bewmound in to the north he [Edward] send. Thai lordschippys all thai gaiff him in commend.
2. Commendation.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 1473. The gret commend that scho to Wallace gaiff Befor the king.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 277. Quhairthrow he gatt commend Of largnes and liberalitie.
1608. Shaks., Per., II. ii. 49. Speak in his just commend.
b. with a and pl. Also a commends.
1606. Rollock’s Lect. 1 Thess. (ed. 1606), 100 (Jam.). Thou … givest vs a goode commend, and vtterst a great rejoising for vs.
1631. Heywood, F. Maid of West, III. Wks. 1874, II. 302. To … vouchsafe some few commends Before his death.
1641. Marmion, Antiquary, in Hazl., Dodsley, XIII. 427. You give yourself a plausible commends.
3. A greeting, remembrance, compliment.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 966. The harrold Jop in Ingland sone he send, And wrayt to Bruce rycht hartlie this commend, Besekand him to cum and tak his croun.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. i. 38. Tell her I send to her my kind commends.
1608. L. Machin, Dumb Knt., V. Thanks M. Jayler, and a kind commend.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. 41. Mr. William Pawley, to whom I desire my most hearty commends may be presented.
