noun

1. an authoritative order or command, esp. a written one
2. Historical
   1. a commission from the League of Nations to a country to administer some region, colony, etc.
   2. the area so administered
3. the wishes of constituents expressed to a representative, legislature, etc., as through an election and regarded as an order
4. Law
   1. an order from a higher court or official to a lower one: a mandate on remission is a mandate from an appellate court to the lower court, communicating its decision in a case appealed
   2. in English law, a bailment of personal property with no consideration
   3. in Roman law, a commission or contract by which a person undertakes to do something for another, without recompense but with indemnity against loss
   4. any contract of agency

Etymology: L mandatum, neut. pp. of mandare, lit., to put into one's hand, command, entrust < manus, a hand + pp. of dare, to give: see manual & date

transitive verb mandated -·dat′ed, mandating -·dat′·ing

1. to assign (a region, etc.) as a mandate
2. to require as by law; make mandatory