[Sp. comendador commander, lieutenant; now esp. used of a mediæval knight-commander.] A commander: chiefly as a Spanish or Venetian title.
1580. Apol. Pr. Orange, in Phœnix (1721), I. 506. That which he and the great Commendador did.
1641. Marmion, Antiquary, V. i. (Venice) A base commendadore! I’ll ne’er endure it.
1656. Earl Monm., Advt. fr. Parnass., 10. The Commendador Hannibal Caro said, that above all other stupendious things in the Commonwealth of Venice, etc.
1678. Phillips, Commendadore (Sp.), a Consul or President in the Indies, or any foreign place: also … Sub-governours under the King of Spain, who is supream master of the Knights of Casatrava, and other orders of Knighthood, and by the Spaniards called Commendadores.
1823. Southey, Penins. War, I. 122. All Commendadors of the military orders, or of Malta, should pay two-thirds of their revenue.
