Verb
commend (third-person singular simple present commends, present participle commending, simple past and past participle commended)
- (transitive) To congratulate or reward.
The schoolboy was commended for raising the alarm about the burning building.
- (transitive) To praise or acclaim.
- The new law has little to commend it: it even worsens the legal certainty of the nation.
- 1485 – Thomas Malory. Le Morte Darthur, Book X, Chapter xliiij, leaf 242v
- Thenne Quene Gueneuer commended hym and soo dyd alle other good knyghtes made moche of hym excepte sire Gawayns bretheren /
- "Then Queen Guenever commended him, and so did all other good knights make much of him, except Sir Gawaine’s brethren."
1697, Virgil, “[Dedication of the Æneis]”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page [166]:Segrais on this Subject of a Heroe's ſhedding Tears, obſerves that Hiſtorians commend Alexander for weeping, when he read the mighty Actions of Achilles.
- (transitive) To entrust or commit to the care of someone else.
After being imprisoned, I had to commend my kids to my mom's safekeeping.
- (transitive) To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and goodwill; give regards from
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:Commend me to my brother.
- (transitive) To recommend.
a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677, →OCLC:Among the objects of knowledge, two especially […] commend themselves to our contemplation.
- (transitive, dated) To adorn; to set off.
Translations
to congratulate or reward
to praise
- Bulgarian: хваля (bg) (hvalja), препоръчвам (bg) (preporǎčvam)
- Dutch: prijzen (nl)
- Esperanto: laŭdi
- Finnish: ylistää (fi), kiitellä (fi)
- French: féliciter (fr), louer (fr)
- Friulian: laudâ
- Galician: loar (gl), eloxiar (gl)
- German: loben (de)
- Hungarian: dicsér (hu), megdicsér (hu)
- Italian: elogiare (it), lodare (it)
- Middle English: enhauncen, commenden
- Portuguese: agradecer (pt), louvar (pt)
- Romanian: lăuda (ro), elogia (ro)
- Russian: хвалить (ru) impf (xvalitʹ)
- Spanish: alabar (es), elogiar (es), loar (es)
- Telugu: మెచ్చుకొను (te) (meccukonu)
- Tocharian A: päl-
- Tocharian B: päl-
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to entrust
- Bulgarian: поверявам (bg) (poverjavam)
- Esperanto: konfidi (eo)
- Finnish: antaa huostaan, antaa huomaan
- French: recommander (fr)
- German: anvertrauen (de), vertrauensvoll überlassen, betrauen mit (de), anbefehlen (de), anempfehlen
- Hungarian: ajánl (hu), beajánl (hu), bíz (hu), rábíz (hu)
- Italian: affidare (it), raccomandare (it)
- Latin: commendō
- Middle English: commenden, recommenden
- Persian: سپردن (fa) (sepordan)
- Portuguese: recomendar (pt)
- Romanian: recomanda (ro)
- Russian: предава́ть (ru) (predavátʹ), вверять (ru) impf (vverjatʹ)
- Spanish: encomendar (es)
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Noun
commend (plural commends)
- (obsolete) Commendation; praise.
c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:He had need meane better, then his outward ſhew
Can any way ſpeake in his iuſt commend:
- (obsolete, in the plural) Compliments; greetings.
Further reading
- “commend”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “commend”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “commend”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.