Webster's English Dictionary

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commission

1. com.mis.sion or into commission \k*-'mish-*n\ n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L 
   commission-, commissio act of bringing together,] fr. commissus, pp. of 
   committere 1a: a formal written warrant granting the power to perform 
   various acts or  duties 1b: a certificate conferring military rank and 
   authority; also : th e rank and authority so conferred 2: an authorization 
   or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform  prescribed acts : 
   CHARGE 3a: authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another  3b: 
   a task or matter entrusted to one as an agent for another  4a: a group of 
   persons directed to perform some duty  4b: a government agency having 
   administrative, legislative, or judicial pow ers 4c: a city council having 
   legislative and executive functions  5: an act of committing (as a crime)  
   6: a fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business o 
   r performing a service; esp : a percentage of the money received in a 
   transaction paid to the agent responsible for the business 7: an act of 
   entrusting or giving authority  1: under the authority of commissioners  of 
   a ship  2: ready for active service  3: in use or in condition for use  : 
   with commission serving as partial or full pay for work done  1: out of 
   active service or use  2: out of working order  - in commission 
2. commission \-'mish-(*-)nin\ vt or com.mis.sion.ing 1: to furnish with a 
   commission : as  1a: to confer a formal commission on  1b: to order to be 
   made  2: to put (a ship) in commission