COMMODIOUS, kom-[=o]'di-us, _adj._ suitable or convenient: roomy, spacious: (_Shak._) serviceable: comfortable.--_n._ COMMODE', a small sideboard: a large, high head-dress formerly worn by ladies: a box for holding a chamber utensil: a night-stool.--_adv._ COMM[=O]'DIOUSLY.--_ns._ COMM[=O]'DIOUSNESS; COMMOD'ITY, convenience: (_Shak._) profit: (_Shak._) parcel: an article of traffic: (_pl._) goods, produce. [L.
_commodus_--_com_, with, _modus_, measure.]
COMMODORE, kom'o-d[=o]r, _n._ in the royal navy, a rank intermediate between an admiral and a captain: the leading ship in a fleet of merchantmen: the president of a yacht-club, also his vessel at a regatta.
[Perh. from Dut. _kommandeur_.]
COMMON, kom'un, _adj._ belonging equally to more than one: public: general: usual: frequent: ordinary: easy to be had: of little value: vulgar: of low degree.--_n._ (_Shak._) the commonalty: a tract of open land, used in common by the inhabitants of a town, parish, &c.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to share.--_adj._ COMMON'ABLE, held in common.--_ns._ COMM'ONAGE, right of pasturing on a common: the right of using anything in common: a common; COMM'ONALTY, the general body of the people without any distinction of rank or authority; COMM'ONER, one of the common people, as opposed to the nobles: a member of the House of Commons: at Oxford, a student who pays for his commons.--_adv._ COMM'ONLY.--_ns._ COMM'ONNESS; COMM'ONPLACE, a common topic or subject: a platitude: a memorandum: a note.--_adj._ common: hackneyed.--_v.i._ to make notes: to put in a commonplace-book.--_n._ COMM'ONPLACE-BOOK, a note or memorandum book.--_n.pl._ COMM'ONS, the common people: their representatives--i.e. the lower House of Parliament or HOUSE OF COMMONS: common land: food at a common table: at Oxford, rations served at a fixed rate from the college buttery: food in general, rations.--_n._ COMM'ON-SENSE, average understanding: good sense or practical sagacity: the opinion of a community: the universally admitted impressions of mankind.--COMMON BENCH, COMMON PLEAS, one of the divisions of the High Court of Justice; COMMON FORMS, the ordinary clauses which are of frequent occurrence in identical terms in writs and deeds; COMMON LAW, in England, the ancient customary law of the land; COMMON PRAYER (BOOK OF), the liturgy of the Church of England; COMMON-RIDING, the Scotch equivalent of BEATING THE BOUNDS (see BEAT); COMMON ROOM, in schools, colleges, &c., a room to which the members have common access.--IN COMMON, together: equally with others.--MAKE COMMON CAUSE WITH, to cast in one's lot with: to have the same interests and aims with.--PHILOSOPHY OF COMMON-SENSE, that school of philosophy which takes the universally admitted impressions of mankind as corresponding to the facts of things without any further scrutiny.--SHORT COMMONS, scant fare, insufficient supply of rations.--THE COMMON, that which is common or usual; THE COMMON GOOD, the interest of the community at large: the corporate property of a burgh in Scotland; THE COMMON PEOPLE, the people in general. [Fr. _commun_--L. _communis_, prob. from _com_, together, and _munis_, serving, obliging.]
COMMONWEAL, kom'un-w[=e]l, COMMONWEALTH, kom'un-welth, _n._ the common or public good: the government in a free state: the public or whole body of the people: a form of government in which the power rests with the people, esp. that in England after the overthrow of Charles I. [See WEALTH.]
COMMOVE, kom-m[=oo]v', _v.t._ to put in motion: to agitate: to disturb, excite.--_n._ COMM[=O]'TION, a violent motion or moving: excited or tumultuous action, physical or mental: agitation: tumult. [L. _com_, inten., and _mov[=e]re_, _motum_, to move.]
COMMUNE, kom'[=u]n, _n._ a corporation: in France, a territorial division governed by a mayor.--The COMMUNE at Paris in 1871 was a revolt against the national government, the principle of the revolt being that each city or district should be ruled independently by its own commune or local government.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'NAL (also COMM'UNAL).--_ns._ COMMUNALIS[=A]'TION; COMM[=U]'NALISM; COMM[=U]'NALIST. [Fr. _commune_. See COMMON.]
COMMUNE, kom-[=u]n', _v.i._ to converse or talk together: to have intercourse: to receive Holy Communion.--_ns._ COMM'UNE, converse: talk; COMMUN'ING, conversing: communion. [O. Fr. _comuner_, to share--_comun_, common.]
COMMUNICATE, kom-[=u]'ni-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to give a share of, impart: to reveal: to bestow.--_v.i._ to have something in common with another: to have communication: to have intercourse: to partake of Holy Communion.--_ns._ COMMUNICABIL'ITY, COMM[=U]'NICABLENESS, the state of being communicable.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'NICABLE, that may be communicated: affable.--_adv._ COMM[=U]'NICABLY.--_ns._ COMM[=U]'NICANT, one who partakes of Holy Communion; COMMUNIC[=A]'TION, act of communicating: that which is communicated: intercourse: correspondence: a means of communicating, a connecting passage or channel.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'NICATIVE, inclined to communicate or give information: unreserved.--_adv._ COMM[=U]'NICATIVELY.--_n._ COMM[=U]'NICATIVENESS, the quality of being communicative.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'NICATORY, imparting knowledge. [L.
_communic[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, from _communis_.]
COMMUNION, kom-[=u]n'yun, _n._ act of communing: mutual intercourse: fellowship: common possession: interchange of transactions: union in religious service: the body of people who so unite.--_n._ COMMUN'IONIST, a communicant.--THE COMMUNION, HOLY COMMUNION, the celebration of the Lord's Supper. [L. _communion-em_, from _communis_.]
COMMUNISM, kom'[=u]-nizm, _n._ a theory or condition of things according to which private property should be abolished, and all things held in common.--_n._ COMM'UNIST, one who holds such principles.--_adj._ COMMUNIST'IC, pertaining to communism.
COMMUNITY, kom-[=u]n'i-ti, _n._ common possession or enjoyment: agreement: communion: (_Shak._) commonness: people having common rights, &c.: the public in general: a body of persons in the same locality, e.g. 'village community:' a monastic body.--_n._ COMMUNIT[=A]'RIAN, a member of a community. [O. Fr.,--L. _communitas_--_communis_.]
COMMUTE, kom-[=u]t', _v.t._ to exchange: to exchange a punishment for one less severe.--_n._ COMMUTABIL'ITY.--_adj._ COMMUT'ABLE, that may be commuted or exchanged.--_n._ COMMUT[=A]'TION, the act of commuting: change or exchange of one thing for another: the change of a penalty or rate from a greater to a less.--_adj._ COMM[=U]'TATIVE (or COMM'), relating to exchange: interchangeable.--_adv._ COMM[=U]'TATIVELY.--_n._ COMM'UT[=A]TOR, an apparatus attached to many electric machines for reversing the currents.--_adj._ COMMUT'UAL, mutual. [L. _commut[=a]re_--_com_, with _mut[=a]re_, to change.]
COMOSE, k[=o]'m[=o]s, _adj._ hairy, comate. [L. _comosus_.]
COMPACT, kom-pakt', _adj._ fastened or packed together: firm: close: brief.--_v.t._ to press closely together: to consolidate: (_Shak._) to confirm.--_adj._ COMPACT'ED, firmly put together: compact.--_adv._ COMPACT'EDLY.--_n._ COMPACT'EDNESS.--_adv._ COMPACT'LY.--_ns._ COMPACT'NESS, state of being compact: closeness: solidity: terseness; COMPAC'TURE (_Spens._) close union or knitting together; COMP[=A]GE', COMP[=A]'GES, a structure of many parts. [Fr.,--L. _com_, _pactus_, pa.p.
of _comping[)e]re_--_com_, together, _pang[)e]re_, to fix. Cf. FANG.]
COMPACT, kom'pakt, _n._ a mutual bargain or agreement: a league, treaty, or union: (_Shak._) league, in bad sense.--_adj._ united: leagued. [L.
_compactum_--_compacisci_, from _com_, with, and _pacisci_, to make a bargain; cf. _pang[)e]re_.]
COMPAGINATE, kom-paj'i-n[=a]t, _v.t._ to join, connect.--_n._ COMPAGIN[=A]'TION. [L. _compagin[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_com_, together, and _pang[)e]re_, to fasten, fix.]
COMPANION, kom-pan'yun, _n._ one who keeps company or frequently associates with another: an associate or partner: a higher rank of servant, who, though receiving pay, stands rather in the relation of a friend: fellow, in a bad sense.--_v.t._ to accompany.--_adj._ of the nature of a companion: accompanying.--_adjs._ COMPAN'IABLE (_obs._), sociable; COMPAN'IONABLE, fit to be a companion: agreeable.--_n._ COMPAN'IONABLENESS.--_adv._ COMPAN'IONABLY.--_adj._ COMPAN'IONED, having a companion.--_ns._ COMPAN'IONHOOD, COMPAN'IONARY.--_adj._ COMPAN'IONLESS, without a companion.--_n._ COMPAN'IONSHIP. [Fr. _compagnon_, from Low L. _companium_, a mess--L. _com_, with, and _panis_, bread.]
COMPANION, kom-pan'yun, _n._ (_naut._) the skylight or window-frame through which light passes to a lower deck or cabin: companion-ladder.--_ns._ COMPAN'ION-LADD'ER, the ladder or stair leading from the deck to the officers' cabin; COMPAN'ION-WAY, a staircase from the deck to a cabin. [Cf.
Dut. _kompanje_; O. Fr. _compagne_; It. _compagne_.]
COMPANY, kum'pa-ni, _n._ any assembly of persons: a number of persons associated together for trade, &c.: a society: a subdivision of a regiment: the crew of a ship: state of being a companion: fellowship: associates: society: a gathering of people for social intercourse.--_v.t._ to accompany.--_v.i._ to associate.--BE GOOD, or BAD, COMPANY, to have, or to lack, companionable qualities; KEEP COMPANY, to associate with: to court; KNOW A MAN BY HIS COMPANY, to determine his character by the quality of his friends. [Fr. _compagnie_. See COMPANION.]
COMPARE, kom-p[=a]r', _v.t._ to set things together, to ascertain how far they agree or disagree: to liken or represent as similar: (_gram._) to inflect an adjective.--_v.i._ to hold comparison.--_n._ (_obs._) comparison: similitude.--_adj._ COM'PARABLE, that may be compared.--_n._ COM'PARABLENESS.--_adv._ COM'PARABLY.--_adj._ COMPAR'ATIVE, pertaining to comparison: estimated by comparing with something else: not positive or absolute: (_gram._) expressing more.--_adv._ COMPAR'ATIVELY.--_n._ COMPAR'ISON, the act of comparing: capacity of being compared: comparative estimate: a simile or figure by which two things are compared: (_gram._) the inflection of an adjective.--BEYOND COMPARE, without any rival.
[Fr.,--L. _compar[=a]re_, to match, from _com_, together, _par[=a]re_, to make or esteem equal--_par_, equal.]
COMPARE, kom-p[=a]r', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to get or provide. [L.
_compar[=a]re_--_com_, inten., _par[=a]re_, to prepare.]
COMPARTMENT, kom-part'ment, _n._ a separate part or division of any enclosed space: a division of a railway carriage: a division of anything.--_v.t._ COMPART', to divide into parts. [Fr., from _compartir_--L. _com_, with, _part[=i]re_, to part.]
COMPASS, kum'pas, _n._ a circuit or circle: space: limit: range, a limit of tones of a voice or instrument: the circumference: girth: an instrument consisting of a magnetised needle, used to steer ships by, &c., the needle indicating on a card the absolute directions at any given time: (_pl._) an instrument consisting of two movable legs, for describing circles, &c.--_v.t._ to pass or go round: to surround or enclose: to besiege: to bring about or obtain: to contrive or plot: to accomplish.--_adj._ COM'PASSABLE, capable of being compassed.--_ns._ COM'PASS-CARD, the circular card of a compass; COM'PASSING, contrivance: design; COM'PASS-PLANE, a plane, convex on the under side, for smoothing curved timber; COM'PASS-SAW, a saw that cuts in a circular manner; COM'PASS-SIG'NAL, a signal denoting a point in the compass; COM'PASS-TIM'BER, curved timber, used for shipbuilding, &c.; COM'PASS-WIN'DOW, a semicircular bay-window.--BOX THE COMPASS (see BOX); FETCH A COMPASS, to go round in a circuit. [Fr. _compas_, a circle, prob.
from Low L. _compassus_--L. _com_, together, _passus_, a step.]
COMPASSION, kom-pash'un, _n._ fellow-feeling, or sorrow for the sufferings of another: pity.--_v.t._ to pity.--_adjs._ COMPAS'SIONABLE, pitiable; COMPAS'SIONATE, inclined to pity or mercy: merciful.--_v.t._ to have compassion for: to have pity or mercy upon.--_adv._ COMPAS'SIONATELY.--_n._ COMPAS'SIONATENESS. [Fr.,--L. _compassio_--_com_, with, _pati_, _passus_, to suffer.]
COMPATIBLE, kom-pat'i-bl, _adj._ consistent: agreeable: that can be endured together.--_ns._ COMPATIBIL'ITY, COMPAT'IBLENESS, the quality of being compatible.--_adv._ COMPAT'IBLY. [Fr.,--L. _com_, with, _pati_, to suffer.]
COMPATRIOT, kom-p[=a]'tri-ot, _adj._ of the same country.--_n._ one of the same country.--_adj._ COMPATRIOT'IC.--_n._ COMP[=A]'TRIOTISM. [Fr.,--L.
_com_, with, and PATRIOT.]
COMPEAR, kom-p[=e]r', _v.i._ (_Scots law_) to appear in court.--_ns._ COMPEAR'ANCE; COMPEAR'ANT. [L. _compar[=e]re_--_com_, together, _par[=e]re_, to appear.]
COMPEER, kom-p[=e]r', _n._ one who is equal to another: a companion: an associate.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to equal. [L. _compar_--_com_, with, and _par_, equal.]
COMPEL, kom-pel', _v.t._ to drive or urge on forcibly: to oblige: to force: to obtain by hard labour:--_pr.p._ compel'ling; _pa.p._ compelled'.--_adj._ COMPEL'LABLE. [L. _com_, inten., _pell[)e]re_, _pulsum_, to drive.]
COMPELLATION, kom-pel-[=a]'shun, _n._ style of address: an appellation.--_adj._ COMPEL'LATIVE.--_n._ compellation. [L.
_compell[=a]re_, _-atum_, to address, freq. of _compell[)e]re_.]
COMPEND, kom'pend, COMPENDIUM, kom-pen'di-um, _n._ a shortening or abridgment: a book or treatise containing the substance of a larger one: an epitome: an abstract.--_adj._ COMPEN'DIOUS, short: concise: comprehensive.--_adv._ COMPEN'DIOUSLY.--_n._ COMPEN'DIOUSNESS. [L.
_compendium_, what is weighed together, or saved (opp. to _dispendium_)--_com_, together, _pend[)e]re_, to weigh.]
COMPENSATE, kom'pen-s[=a]t, or kom-pen's[=a]t, _v.t._ to reward suitably: to make amends for: to recompense: to counterbalance.--_n._ COMPENS[=A]'TION, act of compensating: reward for service: amends for loss sustained: (_phys._) the neutralisation of opposing forces.--_adjs._ COMPEN'SATIVE, COMPEN'SATORY, giving compensation.--_n._ COM'PENS[=A]TOR, one who or that which compensates.--COMPENSATION BALANCE, PENDULUM, a balance-wheel or pendulum so constructed as to counteract the effect of the expansion and contraction of the metal under variation of temperature. [L.
_com_, inten., and _pens[=a]re_, freq. of _pend[)e]re_, to weigh.]
COMPESCE, kom-pes', _v.t._ to restrain. [L. _compesc[)e]re_--_compes_, a fetter--_com_, together, _pes_, a foot.]
COMPETE, kom-p[=e]t', _v.i._ to seek or strive with others for something: to contend for a prize.--_n._ COMPETI'TION, the act of competing: common strife for the same object.--_adj._ COMPET'ITIVE, pertaining to or characterised by competition.--_n._ COMPET'ITOR, one who competes: a rival or opponent. [L. _compet[)e]re_--_com_, together, _pet[)e]re_, to seek.]
COMPETENT, kom'pe-tent, _adj._ suitable: sufficient: fit: belonging: legally qualified: legitimate.--_ns._ COM'PETENCE, COM'PETENCY, fitness: capacity: sufficiency: competent circumstances: legal power or capacity.--_adv._ COM'PETENTLY. [Fr.,--L. _compet[)e]re_--_com_, with, _pet[)e]re_, to seek, to strive after.]
COMPILE, kom-p[=i]l', _v.t._ to write or compose by collecting the materials from other books: to draw up or collect: to compose.--_ns._ COMPIL[=A]'TION, the act of compiling: the thing compiled, a literary work made by gathering the material from various authors; COMPILE'MENT, a compilation; COMPIL'ER, COM'PIL[=A]TOR, one who compiles. [Fr. _compiler_, prob. from L. _compil[=a]re_--_com_, together, _pil[=a]re_, to plunder.]
COMPLACENT, kom-pl[=a]'sent, _adj._ showing satisfaction: pleased: inclined to please.--_ns._ COMPL[=A]'CENCE, COMPL[=A]'CENCY, pleasure: satisfaction: complaisance.--_adv._ COMPL[=A]'CENTLY. [L. _complac[=e]re_--_com_, inten., _plac[=e]re_, to please.]
COMPLAIN, kom-pl[=a]n', _v.i._ to express grief, pain, censure: to murmur or express a sense of injury: to accuse: to make a mournful sound: to be ill--e.g. 'to complain of a sore throat.'--_n._ complaint.--_ns._ COMPLAIN'ANT, one who complains: (_law_) one who raises a suit, a plaintiff; COMPLAIN'ER, a murmurer: complainant; COMPLAIN'ING, the action of the verb _complain_: complaint.--_adv._ COMPLAIN'INGLY.--_n._ COMPLAINT', a complaining: an expression of grief: a representation of pains or injuries: a finding fault: the thing complained of: a disease: an ailment. [Fr. _complaindre_--Low L. _complang[)e]re_--L. _com_, inten., _plang[)e]re_, bewail.]
COMPLAISANT, kom'pl[=a]-zant, or kom-pl[=a]-zant', _adj._ desirous of pleasing; obliging.--_n._ COM'PLAISANCE (or COMPLAISANCE'), care or desire to please: an obliging civility.--_adv._ COM'PLAISANTLY (or COMPLAISANT'LY). [Fr.,--_complaire_--L. _complac[=e]re_.]
COMPLECT, kom-plekt', _v.t._ to embrace: to interweave.--_adj._ COMPLECT'ED, interwoven. [L. _complecti_, to embrace--_com_, and _plect[)e]re_, to twine.]
COMPLEMENT, kom'ple-ment, _n._ that which completes or fills up: full number or quantity: (_Shak._) politeness.--_v.t._ COMPLEMENT', to supplement: (_arch._) to compliment.--_adjs._ COMPLEMENT'AL, completing: (_Shak._) complimental; COMPLEMENT'ARY, completing: together making up a whole.--COMPLEMENTARY ANGLES, angles which together make up a right angle.
[L. _complementum_--_com_, and _pl[=e]re_, to fill.]
COMPLETE, kom-pl[=e]t', _adj._ free from deficiency: perfect: finished: entire.--_v.t._ to finish: to make perfect or entire: to accomplish.--_adjs._ COMPL[=E]T'ABLE; COMPL[=E]T'ED.--_adv._ COMPLETE'LY.--_ns._ COMPLETE'NESS, the state of being complete; COMPL[=E]'TION, the act of completing: the state of being complete: fulfilment.--_adjs._ COMPL[=E]T'IVE; COMPL[=E]T'ORY, fulfilling: completing. [L. _compl[=e]re_, _-[=e]tum_, to fill up--_com_, inten., and _pl[=e]re_, to fill.]
COMPLEX, kom'pleks, _adj._ composed of more than one, or of many parts: not simple: intricate: difficult.--_n._ a complex whole.--_v.t._ to complicate.--_ns._ COMPLEX'EDNESS, COM'PLEXNESS, COMPLEX'ITY, state of being complex: complication.--_adv._ COM'PLEXLY.--_n._ COMPLEX'US, a complicated system: a large muscle of the back, passing from the spine to the head. [L. _complex_--_com_, together, and root of _plic[=a]re_, to fold. See COMPLICATE.]