commissary Hear it!

commissary Definition

com·mis·sary (käm′ə ser′ē)

noun pl. -·sar′·ies

  1. a person to whom some duty is given by authority; deputy; specif.,
    1. in France, a police official
    2. a person representing a bishop in a part of his diocese
  2. Obsolete an army officer in charge of providing soldiers with food and other supplies
  3. food supplies
  4. ☆ a store, as in a lumber camp or army camp, where food and supplies can be obtained
  5. ☆ a restaurant in a film or television studio

Etymology: ME commissarie < ML commissarius < L commissus, pp. of committere: see commit

commissary Related Forms

com′·mis·sar′·ial adjective

commissary Synonyms

commissary

n.

deputy, representative, legate; see agent 1.

commissary Usage Examples

Preposition: of

police: Once, M. de Vauversin visited a commissary of police for permission to sing.

Converse of object

  • order: The commissary ordered that barefoot and in penitential fashion he should offer a candle to the principal image, and should certify.
  • appoint: The Bishop, or his Commissary appointed in writing, shall preside at the Diocesan Nomination Board and have a casting vote.

Adjective modifier

  • Turkish: As for the composition of the Macedonian population, the Turkish Commissary 's statements were startling.
  • other: He, even more than the other Commissaries, is always at work.

Modifies a noun

  • court: Commissary Court Registers of Deeds Before 1809, the commissary courts could register deeds as well.
  • general: The colonel was conducted by Colonel Elias Boudinot, the American commissary general of prisoners who was appointed his position by General George Washington.
  • fund: You can also contribute to Kevin's commissary fund at the jail so he can buy paper, postage and other necessities.