command

From Middle English commanden, commaunden, comaunden, comanden, from Old French comander (modern French commander), from Vulgar Latin *commandare, from Latin commendare, from com- + mandare, from mandō (“I order, command”). Compare commend (a doublet), and mandate.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kəˈmɑːnd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /kəˈmænd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: com‧mand

command (countable and uncountable, plural commands)

1. An order to do something.

   I was given a command to cease shooting.

2. The right or authority to order, control or dispose of; the right to be obeyed or to compel obedience.

   to have command of an army

   • 1822, Alden Bradford, History of Massachusetts ..., Richardson and Lord, page 41:

     GAGE, at that time, had command of troops near the lakes; and fearing an attack from the Indians, had called for some new recruits from Massachusetts; but the Assembly judged them not necessary.

   • 2013, Barry Strauss, Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of ..., Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 68:

     It wasn't a decisive operation, and Carthage still had command of Spain.

3. power of control, direction or disposal; mastery.

   he had command of the situation

   England has long held command of the sea

   a good command of language

   • 1985, Peter Iverson, The Plains Indians of the Twentieth Century, University of Oklahoma Press, →ISBN, page 93:

     The Indians had command of the lands and the waters — command of all their beneficial use, whether kept for hunting, 'and grazing roving herds of stock,' or turned to agriculture and the arts of civilization.

4. A position of chief authority; a position involving the right or power to order or control.

   General Smith was placed in command.

5. The act of commanding; exercise or authority of influence.
   • (Can we date this quote?), H. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 180

     Command cannot be otherwise than savage, for it implies an appeal to force, should force be needful.

6. (military) A body or troops, or any naval or military force, under the control of a particular officer; by extension, any object or body in someone's charge.
   • 1902, Joseph Conrad, chapter I, in Heart of Darkness:

     I asked myself what I was to do there, now my boat was lost. As a matter of fact, I had plenty to do in fishing my command out of the river.

7. Dominating situation; range or control or oversight; extent of view or outlook.
8. (computing) A directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task.
9. (baseball) The degree of control a pitcher has over his pitches.

   He's got good command tonight.

• Command on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

command (third-person singular simple present commands, present participle commanding, simple past and past participle commanded)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To order, give orders; to compel or direct with authority.

   The soldier was commanded to cease firing.

   The king commanded his servant to bring him dinner.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Francis Bacon

     We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends.

   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare

     Go to your mistress: / Say, I command her come to me.

2. (transitive, intransitive) To have or exercise supreme power, control or authority over, especially military; to have under direction or control.

   to command an army or a ship

   • (Can we date this quote?) Macaulay

     Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries.

   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare

     Such aid as I can spare you shall command.

3. (transitive) To require with authority; to demand, order, enjoin.

   he commanded silence

   If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Mat. IV. 3.)

   • 2013, Louise Taylor, English talent gets left behind as Premier League keeps importing (in The Guardian, 20 August 2013)

     The reasons for this growing disconnect are myriad and complex but the situation is exacerbated by the reality that those English players who do smash through our game's "glass ceiling" command radically inflated transfer fees.

4. (transitive) to dominate through ability, resources, position etc.; to overlook.

   Bridges commanded by a fortified house. (Motley.)

5. (transitive) To exact, compel or secure by influence; to deserve, claim.

   A good magistrate commands the respect and affections of the people.

   Justice commands the respect and affections of the people.

   The best goods command the best price.

   This job commands a salary of £30,000.

6. (transitive) To hold, to control the use of.

   The fort commanded the bay.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Motley

     bridges commanded by a fortified house

   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare

     Up to the eastern tower, / Whose height commands as subject all the vale.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Addison

     One side commands a view of the finest garden.

   • 1834, The Hobart Town Magazine (volume 2, page 323)

     […] they made considerable progress in the art of embalming the wild fruits of their native land, so that they might command cranberries and hindberries at all times and seasons.

7. (intransitive, archaic) To have a view, as from a superior position.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     Far and wide his eye commands.

8. (obsolete) To direct to come; to bestow.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Leviticus xxv. 21

     I will command my blessing upon you.

• (give an order): decree, order

• command in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• “command”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.