commission

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty.
2. n. The authority so granted.
3. n. The matter or task so authorized: Investigation of fraud was their commission.
4. n. A document conferring such authorization.
5. n. A group of people officially authorized to perform certain duties or functions: The Federal Trade Commission investigates false advertising.
6. n. A ruling council within the Mafia that adjudicates family disputes and regulates family activities.
7. n. The act of committing or perpetrating: the commission of a crime.
8. n. A fee or percentage allowed to a sales representative or an agent for services rendered.
9. n. An official document issued by a government, conferring on the recipient the rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces.
10. n. The rank and powers so conferred.
11. v. To grant a commission to. See Synonyms at authorize.
12. v. To place an order for: commissioned a new symphony for the festival.
13. v. To put (a ship) into active service.
14. idiom. in commission In active service. Used of a ship.
15. idiom. in commission In use or in usable condition.
16. idiom. on commission With a sales commission serving as full or partial recompense for the work done: sells boats on commission.
17. idiom. out of commission Not in active service. Used of a ship.
18. idiom. out of commission Not in use or working condition.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The act of committing or doing: often with the implication that the thing done is morally wrong: as, the commission of a crime.
2. n. The act of intrusting, as a charge or duty.
3. n. That which is committed, intrusted, or delivered.
4. n. The warrant by which any trust is held or any authority exercised.
5. n. Specifically— A warrant granted by government authority to a person, or to a body of persons, to inquire into and report on any subject.
6. n. The document issued by the government to officers in the army and navy, judges, justices of the peace, and others, conferring authority to perform their various functions; also, the power thus granted.
7. n. A writ which issues from a court of law for various purposes, such as the taking of evidence from witnesses who are unable to appear in court.
8. n. Hence Charge; order; mandate; authority given.
9. n. A body of persons intrusted jointly with the performance of certain special duties, usually of a public or legal character, either permanently or temporarily.
10. n. In com., authority delegated by another for the purchase and sale of goods; the position or business of an agent; agency: thus, to trade or do business on commission is to buy or sell for another by his authority.
11. n. The allowance made or the percentage given to a factor or agent for transacting business, or to an executor, administrator, or trustee, as his compensation for administering an estate.
12. n. See to put in commission, below.
13. n. In the United States navy, to transfer (a ship) from the navy-yard authorities to the command of the officer ordered in charge. Upon this transfer being made the ensign and pendant are hoisted, and the ship is then said to be in commission.
14. n. Synonyms Perpetration.
15. n. Percentage, brokerage, fee.
16. To give a commission to; empower or authorize by commission.
17. To send with a mandate or authority; send as a commission.
18. Synonyms To appoint, depute, delegate.
19. n. A shirt.
20. n. In naval use, a period of active service of a war-ship, from the time she is put into commission until she is again out of commission. In the British navy this period is from 2 to 5 years. In the United States navy there is no fixed length of commission.
21. To order, as a war-ship, into active service, or to place in commission with formal ceremony.

Wiktionary

1. n. A sending or mission (to do or accomplish something).
2. n. An official charge or authority to do something, often used of military officers.
3. n. A body or group of people, officially tasked with carrying out a particular function. Eg: The European Commission, The Electoral Commission, The Federal Communications Commission.
4. n. A fee charged by an agent or broker for carrying out a transaction. Eg: Reseller commission, Finder's fee.
5. n. the act of committing (e.g. a crime)
6. n. The name of a service provided to validate the completeness and accuracy of a project or venture.
7. v. transitive To send or officially charge someone or some group to do something.
8. v. transitive To place an order for (often piece of art); as, commission a portrait.
9. v. transitive To put into active service; as, commission a ship.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of perpetrating.
2. n. The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust shall be executed.
3. n. The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a trust; a charge.
4. n. A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties.
5. n. A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority.
6. n. A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the execution of some trust.
7. n. The acting under authority of, or on account of, another.
8. n. The thing to be done as agent for another.
9. n. The brokerage or allowance made to a factor or agent for transacting business for another. See Del credere.
10. v. To give a commission to; to furnish with a commission; to empower or authorize.
11. v. To send out with a charge or commission.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
2. n. a special group delegated to consider some matter
3. n. an official document issued by a government and conferring on the recipient the rank of an officer in the armed forces
4. n. a fee for services rendered based on a percentage of an amount received or collected or agreed to be paid (as distinguished from a salary)
5. n. a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something
6. v. put into commission; equip for service; of ships
7. v. charge with a task
8. n. the state of being in good working order and ready for operation
9. n. the act of committing a crime
10. n. a special assignment that is given to a person or group
11. v. place an order for
12. n. a group of representatives or delegates