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Command   /kəmˈænd/   Listen
noun
Command  n.  
1.
An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an injunction. "Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose."
2.
The possession or exercise of authority. "Command and force may often create, but can never cure, an aversion."
3.
Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the forces under his command.
4.
Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of position; scope of vision; survey. "The steepy stand Which overlooks the vale with wide command."
5.
Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has command of the bridge. "He assumed an absolute command over his readers."
6.
A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post, or the whole territory under the authority or control of a particular officer.
Word of command (Mil.), a word or phrase of definite and established meaning, used in directing the movements of soldiers; as, aim; fire; shoulder arms, etc.
Synonyms: Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion; sovereignty; mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest. See Direction.


verb
Command  v. t.  (past & past part. commanded; pres. part. commanding)  
1.
To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge. "We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends." "Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me."
2.
To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead. "Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries." "Such aid as I can spare you shall command."
3.
To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook. "Bridges commanded by a fortified house." "Up to the eastern tower, Whose height commands as subject all the vale." "One side commands a view of the finest garden."
4.
To have power or influence of the nature of authority over; to obtain as if by ordering; to receive as a due; to challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people; the best goods command the best price. "'Tis not in mortals to command success."
5.
To direct to come; to bestow. (Obs.) "I will command my blessing upon you."
Synonyms: To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule; overlook.


Command  v. i.  
1.
To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to sway; to influence; to give an order or orders. "And reigned, commanding in his monarchy." "For the king had so commanded concerning (Haman)."
2.
To have a view, as from a superior position. "Far and wide his eye commands."





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Command" Quotes from Famous Books



... that slavery existed, and was general throughout the Roman empire, at the time the apostolic Churches were instituted. We have at our command the authorities to prove this, but to quote from them would swell this discourse beyond what we have intended. We will cite the authorities only; and anti-slavery men who deny our position can examine our ...
— Americanism Contrasted with Foreignism, Romanism, and Bogus Democracy in the Light of Reason, History, and Scripture; • William Gannaway Brownlow
... city like this; it has no compassion. Surely, in the country, she would not be so utterly thrown down in the race. Surely, some one would say, "At meal-time come thou hither and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar;" and would command the young men and say to them, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not. And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her ...
— The Beautiful Wretch; The Pupil of Aurelius; and The Four Macnicols • William Black
... his arrival from Campobello; but she was still a handsome, effective woman, of whom you would have hesitated to say whether she was showy or distinguished. Perhaps she was a little of both, with an air of command bred of supremacy in frontier garrisons; her sister was like her in the way that a young girl may be like a young matron. They blossomed alike in the genial atmosphere of Mrs. Brinkley and of Mr. Corey. He began at once to make bantering speeches with them ...
— Henry James, Jr. • William Dean Howells
... the wake of four other men down a long spiral course towards the base of the mountain. Yesterday he would have ridden at their head. He would have taken the place of leadership and command among them which he had for months been taking in the fight against the railroad. Probably he could still have had that place among them if he had tried to assert himself, for men had come to have a habit of depending ...
— The Shepherd of the North • Richard Aumerle Maher
... means abated by this act of cruelty; he advanced a few steps, then stopped, turned, his lance in rest, looking around, the very image of ungovernable fury. His eyes fell upon Mr. Rosenthal. "Seize him!" cried he; Immediately several soldiers rushed forward to obey the imperial command. "Seize the man they call a Hakeem." Instantly a dozen ruffians pounced upon me, and I was held fast by the arms, coat, trousers—by every place that afforded a grip. He then addressed himself to Mr. Rosenthal. ...
— A Narrative of Captivity in Abyssinia - With Some Account of the Late Emperor Theodore, - His Country and People • Henry Blanc


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