COMART, k[=o]'mart, _n._ (_Shak._) an agreement.

COMATE, k[=o]'m[=a]t, _n._ (_Shak._) a mate or companion.

COMB, k[=o]m, _n._ a toothed instrument for separating and cleaning hair, wool, flax, &c.: the crest of a cock: the top or crest of a wave or of a hill: an aggregation of cells for honey.--_v.t._ to separate, arrange, or clean by means of a comb: to dress with a comb: (_Shak._) to beat.--_v.i._ to break with a white foam, as the top of a wave.--_adj._ COMBED.--_n._ COMB'ER, one who or that which combs wool, &c.--_n.pl._ COMB'INGS, hairs combed off.--_adjs._ COMB'LESS (_Shak._), without a comb; COMB'WISE; COMB'Y.--_n._ CROP'-COMB, a semicircular comb worn by girls.--COMB OFF, to remove. [A.S. _camb_.]

COMB, COMBE. See COOMB.

COMBAT, kom'bat, or kum'bat, _v.i._ to contend or struggle.--_v.t._ to beat against: to contest: to oppose: to debate.--_n._ a struggle: a fight.--_adjs._ COM'BATABLE, capable of being combated; COM'BATANT, disposed to combat.--_n._ one who combats; COM'BATIVE, inclined to quarrel.--_n._ COM'BATIVENESS.--COMBATANT OFFICER, one who takes part in the action, as opposed to the medical officers, &c., who are NON-COMBATANT.

[Fr. _combattre_, to fight--_com_, with, and _battre_, to beat. See BEAT.]

COMBER, kom'b[=e]r, _n._ a name applied to the gaper, a sea-perch, and to a species of wrasse.

COMBINE, kom-b[=i]n', _v.t._ to join two together: to unite intimately.--_v.i._ to come into close union: to co-operate: (_chem._) to unite and form a new compound.--_n._ a trading syndicate, a trust.--_adj._ COM'BINATE, combined: betrothed.--_ns._ COMBIN[=A]'TION, the act of combining: union of individual things: persons united for a purpose; COMBIN[=A]'TION-ROOM, the college-parlour at Cambridge, for the fellows of a college after dinner, a common-room.--_n.pl._ COMBIN[=A]'TIONS, a women's and children's garment consisting of chemise and drawers combined.--_adjs._ COM'BIN[=A]TIVE; COMB[=I]'NATORY; COMBINED'; COMBIN'ING. [L.

_combin[=a]re_, to join--_com_, together, and _bini_, two and two.]

COMBROUS (_obs._) = CUM'BROUS.

COMBURGESS, kom-bur'jes, _n._ a fellow-burgess.

COMBUST, kom-bust', _adj._ burned by the sun: in conjunction with the sun, or apparently very near it, so as to be obscured by its light, said of a planet when it is not more than 8 from the sun.--_n._ that which is burned.--_v.t._ to burn up.--_adj._ COMBUST'IBLE, liable to take fire and burn: excitable.--_n._ anything that will take fire and burn.--_ns._ COMBUST'IBLENESS, COMBUSTIBIL'ITY, quality of being combustible; COMBUS'TION, a burning: the action of fire on combustible substances: confusion, turmoil: the scientific term for all kinds of consumption through the influence of heat.--_adjs._ COMBUST'IOUS (_Shak._), combustible, inflammable: turbulent; COMBUST'IVE, disposed to take fire.--SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION, burning caused by heat generated in the substance itself. [L. _combur[)e]re_, _combustum_, to consume--_com_, inten., _ur[)e]re_, to burn.]

COME, kum (_Shak._), a shortening of BECOME.

COME, kum, _v.i._ to move toward this place (the opposite of _go_): to draw near: to arrive at a certain state or condition: to issue: to happen: (_Shak._) to yield; to become: to turn out:--_pr.p._ com'ing; _pa.t._ came; _pa.p._ come.--_n._ COM'ING.--_adj._ COME'-AT-ABLE, accessible; COME ABOUT, to happen; COME ACROSS, to meet; COME AND GO, to have freedom of action (_n._ passage to and fro); COME AT, to reach; COME BY, to come near: to pass: to obtain; COME DOWN, to descend: to be reduced (_n._ a fall); COME DOWN UPON, to be severe with; COME DOWN WITH, to pay down; COME HIGH, or LOW, to cost much, or little; COME HOME, to return to one's house: to touch one's interest or feelings closely (with _to_): (_naut._) to drag or slip through the ground--of an anchor; COME IN, to enter: to give in, to yield: (_fencing_) to get within the opponent's guard (_Shak._); COME IN FOR, to have reason to expect or to have a share; COME IT STRONG (_coll._), to do or say too much; COME OF, to descend from: become of; COME OFF, to come away: to turn out: to escape (_n._ a conclusion: an evasion of duty); COME OUT, to result: to be published: to become evident: to enter society; COME OUT WITH, to let be known: to tell; COME OVER (_Shak._), surpass: to befall: (_slang_) to overreach; COME O' WILL, something that comes of its own accord: an illegitimate child; COME ROUND, to come by a circuitous path: to happen in due course: to change: to recover from a faint; COME SHORT, to fail; COME SHORT OF, to fail to accomplish; COME TO, to obtain: to amount to: to recover consciousness or sanity; COME TO GRIEF, to meet with disaster or ill-fortune; COME TO PASS, to happen; COME TRUE, to be found to have been true; COME UNDER, to be included under; COME UPON, to attack: to affect; to hold answerable: to meet; COME UP WITH, to overtake: reach.--ALL COMERS, any one that likes. [A.S. _cuman_; Ger. _kommen_, to come.]

CO-MEDDLE, k[=o]-med'l, _v.t._ to mix: (_Shak._) to temper.

COMEDO, kom'e-do, _n._ a small, black-tipped, worm-like mass which is found on the face of some persons. [L. _comed[)e]re_, to eat up.]

COMEDY, kom'e-di, _n._ a dramatic piece of a pleasant or humorous character, originally accompanied with dancing and singing.--_ns._ COM[=E]'DIAN, one who acts or writes comedies: an actor:--_fem._ COMeDIENNE'; COM[=E]DIET'TA, a short comic piece. [L.,--Gr.

_k[=o]m[=o]dia_, _k[=o]mos_, revel, _[=o]d[=e]_, song.]

COMELY, kum'li, _adj._ pleasing: graceful: handsome.--_adv._ in a comely manner.--_n._ COME'LINESS. [A.S. _cymlic_--_cyme_, suitable, _lic_, like.]

COMESTIBLES, kom-est'i-blz, _n.pl._ eatables. [Fr.,--L. _comed[)e]re_, to eat up.]

COMET, kom'et, _n._ a heavenly body with an eccentric orbit, having a definite point or nucleus, a nebulous light surrounding the nucleus, and a luminous tail preceding or following the nucleus.--_adjs._ COM'ETARY, COMET'IC.--_ns._ COM'ET-FIND'ER, a telescope of low power used to search for comets; COMETOG'RAPHY; COMETOL'OGY. [Gr. _kom[=e]t[=e]s_, long-haired--_kom[=e]_, the hair.]

COMFIT, kum'fit, _n._ a sweetmeat made of fruit and sugar, &c. [A doublet of CONFECT; from Fr. _confit_, _confiture_--L. _confic[)e]re_, to make up.]

COMFORT, kum'furt, _v.t._ to relieve from pain or distress: to soothe: to cheer, revive.--_n._ relief: encouragement: ease: quiet enjoyment: freedom from annoyance: whatever gives ease, enjoyment, &c.: a subject of satisfaction.--_adj._ COM'FORTABLE, imparting or enjoying comfort.--_adv._ COM'FORTABLY.--_n._ COM'FORTER, one who administers comfort: (_B._) the Holy Spirit: a long, narrow woollen tippet.--_adj._ COM'FORTLESS, without comfort.--_n._ COM'FORTLESSNESS.--JOB'S COMFORTER, one who, while pretending to comfort, only aggravates the distress. [O. Fr.

_conforter_--L. _con_, and _fortis_, strong.]

COMFREY, kum'fri, _n._ a genus of _Boraginaceae_, somewhat coarse perennial herbs. [O. Fr. _confirie_.]

COMIC, kom'ik, _adj._ relating to comedy: raising mirth: droll.--_n._ (_coll._) an amusing person: (_coll._) a comic paper.--_adj._ COM'ICAL, funny: queer: ludicrous.--_ns._ COMICAL'ITY, COM'ICALNESS.--_adv._ COM'ICALLY.--_n._ COMIQUE (k[=o]-m[=e]k'), a comic actor or singer. [See COMEDY.]

COMITATUS, kom-i-t[=a]'tus, _n._ a prince's escort: a county or shire. [L.]

COMITIA, ko-mish'i-a, _n._ the assemblies of the Romans for electing magistrates, passing laws, &c. [L.,--_com_, together, _[=i]re_, _[=i]tum_, to go.]

COMITY, kom'i-ti, _n._ courteousness: civility.--COMITY OF NATIONS (_comitas gentium_), the international courtesy by which effect is given to the laws of one state within the territory of another state. [L.

_comitas_--_comis_, courteous.]

COMMA, kom'a, _n._ (_Shak._) a short part of a sentence: in punctuation, the point (,) which marks the smallest division of a sentence: (_fig._) a brief interval.--INVERTED COMMAS, marks of quotation ("..", '..').

[L.,--Gr. _komma_, a section of a sentence, from _koptein_, to cut off.]

COMMAND, kom-mand', _v.t._ to order: to bid: to exercise supreme authority over: (_Shak._) to demand: to cause to act: (_Shak._) to exact: to have within sight, influence, or control.--_v.i._ to have chief authority: to govern.--_n._ an order: authority: message: the ability to overlook or influence: the thing commanded.--_ns._ COMMANDANT', an officer who has the command of a place or of a body of troops, COMMANDANT'SHIP.--_v.t._ COMMANDEER', to compel to military service.--_ns._ COMMAND'ER, one who commands: an officer in the navy next in rank under a captain; COMMAND'ER-IN-CHIEF, the highest staff appointment in the British army: the officer in supreme command of an army, or of the entire forces of the state; COMMAND'ERSHIP; COMMAND'ERY, the district under a commander, specially used in connection with the Templars, the Hospitallers, and other religious orders.--_adj._ COMMAND'ING, fitted to impress or control.--_adv._ COMMAND'INGLY.--_n._ COMMAND'MENT, a command: a precept.--COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL, a title of the caliphs.--AT COMMAND, available for use; ON COMMAND, under orders.--TEN COMMANDMENTS, the ten Mosaic laws: (_slang_) the ten finger-nails, used by women in fighting.

[Fr. _commander_--L. _commend[=a]re_--_com_, and _mand[=a]re_, to entrust.]

COMMEASURE, kom-mezh'[=u]r, _v.t._ to equal in measure: to coincide with.--_n._ COMMEAS'URABLE (same as COMMEN'SURABLE).

COMMEMORATE, kom-em'o-r[=a]t, _v.t._ to call to remembrance by a solemn or public act: to celebrate: to preserve the memory of.--_adj._ COMMEM'ORABLE.--_n._ COMMEMOR[=A]'TION, preserving the memory of some person or thing by a solemn ceremony: the specification of individual saints in the prayers for the dead: the great festival of the Oxford academic year, usually taking place on the third Wednesday after Trinity Sunday.--_adjs._ COMMEM'ORATIVE, COMMEM'ORATORY, tending or serving to commemorate.--_n._ COMMEM'ORATOR. [L. _commemoratus_, pa.p. of _commemor[=a]re_, to remember--_com_, inten., and _memor_, mindful.]

COMMENCE, kom-ens', _v.i._ to begin: to originate: to take rise.--_v.t._ to begin: to originate: to enter upon: to take a university degree--e.g. 'to commence M.A.'--_n._ COMMENCE'MENT, the beginning: at certain universities the act of taking the degrees: the ceremony when these are conferred. [O.

Fr. _comencer_--L. _com_, and _initi[=a]re_, to begin--_in_, into, and _[=i]re_, to go.]

COMMEND, kom-end', _v.t._ to give into the charge of: to recommend as worthy: to praise: to adorn, set off.--_n._ (_Shak._) praise.--_adj._ COMMEND'ABLE, worthy of being commended or praised.--_n._ COMMEND'ABLENESS.--_adv._ COMMEND'ABLY.--_ns._ COMMEND'AM, a manner of holding an ecclesiastical benefice till a proper pastor was provided for it--it was provisionally _commended_ to the care of a clerk, and was said to be held _in commendam_; COMMEND[=A]'TION, the act of commending: praise: declaration of esteem: esp. the act of commending the dying or dead to the favour and mercy of God; COM'MEND[=A]TOR, one who holds a benefice _in commendam_.--_adj._ COMMEND'ATORY, commending: containing praise or commendation: presenting to favourable notice or reception.--COMMEND ME TO, remember me kindly to: give me by preference. [L. _commend[=a]re_--_com_, and _mand[=a]re_, to trust.]

COMMENSAL, ko-men'sal, _adj._ eating at the same table.--_n._ a messmate.--_n._ COMMEN'SALISM, the intimate but never parasitic association of two organisms, for the benefit of one, or very often of both. [L. _com_, together, _mensa_, a table.]

COMMENSURABLE, kom-en's[=u]-ra-bl, _adj._ having a common measure.--_ns._ COMMENSURABIL'ITY, COMMEN'SURABLENESS.--_adv._ COMMEN'SURABLY.--_adj._ COMMEN'SUR[=A]TE, of the same measure with: equal in measure or extent: in proportion with.--_adv._ COMMEN'SUR[=A]TELY.--_ns._ COMMEN'SUR[=A]TENESS, COMMENSUR[=A]'TION. [L. _com_, with, and _mensura_, a measure--_met[=i]ri_, _mensus_, to measure.]

COMMENT, kom'ent, _n._ a note conveying an illustration or explanation: a remark, observation, criticism.--_v.i._ (or kom-ent') to make critical or explanatory notes: to annotate: (_Shak._) to meditate.--_ns._ COMM'ENTARY, a comment: a remark: a book consisting of a regular series of comments or notes on another book; COMMENT[=A]'TION, annotation; COMM'ENT[=A]TOR, COMM'ENTER (or COMMENT'ER), COMM'ENTOR (or COMMENT'OR).--_adj._ COMMENTAT[=O]'RIAL, pertaining to the making of commentaries. [Fr.,--L.

_comment[=a]ri_--_com_, and L. _mens_, the mind.]

COMMERCE, kom'[.e]rs, _n._ interchange of merchandise on a large scale between nations or individuals: extended trade or traffic: intercourse: fellowship.--_v.i._ COMMERCE', to trade: to have communication with.--_adj._ COMMER'CIAL, pertaining to commerce: mercantile.--_n._ commercial traveller.--_ns._ COMMER'CIALISM; COMMER'CIALIST; COMMER'CIALITY.--_adv._ COMMER'CIALLY.--COMMERCIAL ROOM, a room in a hotel set apart for commercial travellers; COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER, a person who transacts business as the accredited travelling representative of a trading house to other trading houses. [Fr.,--L. _commercium_--_com_, with, _merx_, _mercis_, merchandise.]

COMMERGE, ko-m[.e]rj', _v.i._ to coincide, agree.

COMMINATE, kom'in-[=a]t, _v.t._ to threaten.--_n._ COMMIN[=A]'TION, threatening, denunciation: a recital of God's threatenings made on Ash-Wednesday and at other times in the English Church.--_adjs._ COMM'INATIVE, COMM'INATORY, threatening punishment. [L.,--_com_, inten., and _min[=a]ri_, to threaten.]

COMMINGLE, kom-ing'gl, _v.t._ to mingle or mix with.--_adj._ COMMIN'GLED.

[L. _com_, together, and MINGLE.]

COMMINUTE, kom'in-[=u]t, _v.t._ to reduce to minute particles: to pulverise.--_n._ COMMIN[=U]'TION.--COMMINUTED FRACTURE, the breaking of a bone in several places: a compound fracture. [L. _comminu[)e]re_, _-[=u]tum_, to break into pieces--_com_, and _minu[)e]re_, to make small--root _minus_, less.]

COMMISERATE, kom-iz'[.e]r-[=a]t, _v.t._ to feel for the miseries of another: to pity: to condole with.--_adj._ COMMIS'ERABLE, requiring commiseration: pitiable.--_n._ COMMISER[=A]'TION, concern for the sufferings of others: pity.--_adj._ COMMIS'ERATIVE, feeling or expressing sympathetic sorrow.--_n._ COMMIS'ER[=A]TOR. [L. _com_, with, _miser[=a]ri_, to deplore--_miser_, wretched.]

COMMISSARY, kom'is-ar-i, _n._ one to whom any charge is committed: a deputy: (_Scots law_) the judge in a commissary court: a higher officer of police: (_eccles._) an officer representing a bishop, and performing his duties in distant parts of the diocese: an officer who furnishes provisions, &c., to an army.--_adj._ COMMISS[=A]'RIAL, pertaining to a commissary.--_ns._ COMMISS[=A]'RIAT, the department charged with the furnishing of provisions, as for an army: the supply of provisions: the office of a commissary; COMM'ISSARY-GEN'ERAL, the head of the department for supplying provisions, &c., to an army; COMM'ISSARYSHIP.--COMMISSARY COURT, a supreme court established in Edinburgh in 1563, with jurisdiction in questions of marriage--its powers conjoined with those of the Court of Session in 1836. [Low L. _commissarius_--L. _committ[)e]re_, _commissum_.]

COMMISSION, kom-ish'un, _n._ act of committing: that which is committed: a writing conferring certain powers: authority: the percentage paid in a transaction to an active agent who usually incurs some pecuniary and always some moral responsibility: a body of persons appointed to perform certain duties: a warrant from the head of the state for holding various military offices, whether combatant or non-combatant.--_v.t._ to give a commission to: to empower: to send: to appoint.--_ns._ COMMIS'SION-AG'ENT, COMMIS'SION-MER'CHANT, a person employed to sell goods delivered to him by another (his principal), for a certain percentage--his _commission_ or factorage; COMMISSIONAIRE', a messenger, or light porter: one employed about public places and hotels to undertake light commissions.--_adj._ COMMIS'SIONED.--_ns._ COMMIS'SIONER, one who holds a commission to perform some business: a member of a commission; COMMIS'SIONERSHIP.--COMMISSIONED OFFICER, one appointed by commission--in the navy, the officers from the lieutenant; in the army, from the ensign upwards. [From COMMIT.]

COMMISSURE, kom'mis-s[=u]r, _n._ a joint: place where two bodies meet and unite: (_anat._) a term applied to nervous connections between adjacent parts of the nervous system.--_adj._ COMMIS'SURAL. [L., _commissura_, a joining, from root of COMMIT.]

COMMIT, kom-it', _v.t._ to give in charge or trust: to consign: to do: to endanger: to involve: to pledge:--_pr.p._ commit'ting; _pa.p._ commit'ted.--_ns._ COMMIT'MENT, act of committing: an order for sending to prison: imprisonment; COMMIT'TAL, commitment: a pledge, actual or implied; COMMIT'TEE, a portion, generally consisting of not less than three members, selected from a more numerous body, to whom some special act to be performed, or investigation to be made, is committed; COMMIT'TEESHIP.--COMMIT ONE'S SELF, to compromise one's self: to pledge one's self wittingly or unwittingly to a certain course; COMMIT TO MEMORY, to learn by heart. [L. _committ[)e]re_--_com_, with, _mitt[)e]re_, to send.]

COMMIX, kom-iks', _v.t._ to mix together.--_v.i._ to mix.--_ns._ COMMIX'TION, COMMIX'TURE, act of mixing together: the state of being mixed: the compound formed by mixing: the rite of putting a piece of the host into the chalice, emblematic of the reunion of body and soul at the Resurrection.