Chapter Comitial to Commendatary of C by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

1. A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it.

A leader and commander to the people.
Is. lv. 4.

2. (Navy) An officer who ranks next below a captain, — ranking with a lieutenant colonel in the army.

3. The chief officer of a commandery.

4. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc.

Commander in chief, the military title of the officer who has supreme command of the land or naval forces or the united forces of a nation or state; a generalissimo. The President is commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States.

Syn. — See Chief.

Commandership
(Com*mand"er*ship), n. The office of a commander.

Commandery
(Com*mand"er*y) n.; pl. Commanderies [F. commanderie.]

1. The office or rank of a commander. [Obs.]

2. A district or a manor with lands and tenements appertaining thereto, under the control of a member of an order of knights who was called a commander; — called also a preceptory.

3. An assembly or lodge of Knights Templars (so called) among the Freemasons. [U. S.]

4. A district under the administration of a military commander or governor. [R.] Brougham.

Commanding
(Com*mand"ing), a.

1. Exercising authority; actually in command; as, a commanding officer.

2. Fitted to impress or control; as, a commanding look or presence.

3. Exalted; overlooking; having superior strategic advantages; as, a commanding position.

Syn. — Authoritative; imperative; imperious.

Commandingly
(Com*mand"ing*ly), adv. In a commanding manner.

Commandment
(Com*mand"ment) n. [OF. commandement, F. commandement.]

1. An order or injunction given by authority; a command; a charge; a precept; a mandate.

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.
John xiii. 34.

2. (Script.) One of the ten laws or precepts given by God to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

3. The act of commanding; exercise of authority.

And therefore put I on the countenance
Of stern commandment.
Shak.

4. (Law) The offense of commanding or inducing another to violate the law.

The Commandments, The Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, or summary of God's commands, given to Moses at Mount Sinai. (Ex. xx.)