Also 6 comentarie. [ad. L. commentāri-um, āri-us (in 16th c. F. commentaire, It. commentario), in its origin an adj. (sc. volumen, liber), f. comment-um: see COMMENT and -ARY. In classical L. used in the senses ‘note-book, book of memoranda, or memoirs,’ also (in Gellius) of ‘annotations.’ Isidore, Orig., vi. viii. 5 explains, ‘Sunt enim interpretationes, ut commenta iuris, commenta evangelii.’]
† 1. A collection of notes or memoranda; a notebook. Obs. rare.
1531. Elyot, Gov., II. ii. The same emperour spake seldome openly, but out of a comentarie … that he had before prouided and writen.
1538. Starkey, England, II. i. (1871), 162. By a commentary to conserue and kepe in memory.
2. A memoir; in pl. memoirs, historical records (properly less formal and elaborate than a history); a treatise in explanation or exposition of some subject, as law or physic. (Chiefly Hist.)
1538. Leland, Itin., VI. 6. He wrote certen Commentaries concerning the Law.
1547. Homilies, I. Faith (1859), 36. He that readeth Cesars Commentaries … hath thereby a knowledge of Cesars life and notable acts.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1594), 197. We [Frenchmen] … studie kitchin Commentaries, as much as any good science.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. ii. § 2. Commentaries are they which set down a continuance of the naked events and actions, without the motives or designs, the counsels, the speeches, the pretexts, the occasions and other passages of action: for this is the true nature of a commentary.
1657. (title) The Comentaries of Sir Francis Vere, being Diverse pieces of service wherein he had command, written by himself in way of Commentary.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. ii. 12. Caesar … has in one passage of the Commentaries compressed into a few lines all that he could ascertain about the Germans.
3. A treatise consisting of a systematic series of comments or annotations on the text of a literary work; an expository treatise following the order of the work explained.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 1623. The commentaryes of Auicen and Aueroyes.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 279. The commentaries of Landinus vppon the fourth boke of Virgyl his Eneades.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., Pref. to Contents. Wee want not good Commentaries to discover unto us the naturall sense of the Scripture.
1768. Johnson, Pref. to Shaks., Wks. IX. 301. It is to be lamented, that such a writer should want a commentary.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 249. Many volumes have been written by way of commentary on Dante and his Book.
b. transf. and fig. Anything that serves for exposition or illustration; a comment, remark.
1538. Coverdale, Prol. to N. T., Wks. II. 36. One translation … illustrateth another, and … in many places one is a plain commentary unto another.
1671. Grew, Anat. Plants, Ded. Bp. Chester, How excellent a Commentary This [Nature] is on the Former [the Scriptures].
1748. J. Mason, Elocut., 14. A just Pronunciation is a good Commentary.
1814. Scott, Wav., xxiv. Waverley made no commentary … on the manner of the treatment.
1843. Prescott, Mexico, VII. ii. (1864), 223. Godly persons … whose lives might be a fitting commentary on their teaching.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., II. vi. Mortimer laughed again, with his usual commentaries of ‘How can you be so ridiculous, Eugene!’ and ‘What an absurd fellow you are!’
