commentary Hear it!

commentary Definition

com·men·tary (käm′ən ter′ē)

noun pl. -·tar′·ies

  1. a series of explanatory notes or annotations, often forming a treatise on a text
  2. a series of remarks or observations, usually connected in a loose narrative
  3. something having the force of a comment, remark, or illustration
  4. a historical narrative based on personal experience Caesar's Commentaries

Etymology: L commentarius, notebook, annotation < commentari: see comment

commentary Related Forms
com′·men·tar′·ial adjective
commentary Synonyms

commentary

n.

  1. An exposition

    discourse, critique, editorial, analysis; see explanation 2, exposition 2, review 2.

  2. A comment

    criticism, explication, annotation, remark; see explanation 2, remark. See syn. study at remark.

commentary Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • illuminate: This outline of the Wisdom teaching consists of extracts from the original literature with an illuminating commentary.
  • write: Louisa has written a much more in-depth commentary of the day, go read it.
  • run: However, we would not be giving a running commentary on their movements.

Converse of subject

  • accompany: Where appropriate, reviews are also accompanied by commentaries by other workers in the field or editorial comment.

Adjective modifier

  • audio: For starters you get an audio commentary from the director giving an insight in what he was trying to achieve.
  • insightful: This book is the account of his visit and his insightful, often interactive commentaries.
  • topical: Best wishes, David Parsons Interesting 2006 Refresher Day reports and discussion The Blog is our Topical Commentary.
  • accompanying: Each accompanying commentary is based on the text in Shaw's book.
  • optional: Alternate ending ( with optional commentary by writer/director Thurber ).
  • informative: An informative commentary is given throughout with refreshments provided.

Preposition: on

  • Roman: Käsemann, Ernst, 1980: Commentary on Romans.
  • episode: Audio commentary on a key episode by three of the series ' stars.
  • verse: Others provide several pages of commentary on each verse.

Modifies a noun

  • track: Due to the lack of a commentary track we don't know why these scenes were removed.

Noun used with modifier

  • crd: CRD commentary The review question was clear in terms of the study design, intervention, participants and outcomes.
  • clause-by-clause: The text provides expertly drafted precedents, supported by general and clause-by-clause commentary on the legal and commercial aspects of their drafting and application.
  • on-board: The tour runs every Tuesday from 18 July to 22 August 2006 with on-board commentary from a local expert.
  • cricket: If I was a materialist I would be making lots of money doing endorsements, doing cricket commentary.
  • expert: We hope not how is it of expert commentary.

Preposition: by

  • director: The extras include a commentary by the director and lead actor, a behind the scenes featurette and a picture gallery.
commentary Quotes

My entire soul is a cry, and all my work is a commentary on that cry.

—Kazantzakis, Nikos

We of the long tails! We of the presentient whiskers! We of the perpetually growing teeth! We, the serried footnotes to man, his proliferating commentary.We, indestructible!

—Grass, Gu«  nter Wilhelm