Command

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: com=mand

CIDE DICTIONARY

Command, v. t. [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF. comander, F. commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to, to command. Cf. Commend, Mandate.].

•  To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge.  [1913 Webster]

  "We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends."  [1913 Webster]

  "Go to your mistress:
  Say, I command her come to me."  [1913 Webster]
•  To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead.  [1913 Webster]

  "Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries."  [1913 Webster]

  "Such aid as I can spare you shall command."  [1913 Webster]
•  To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook.  [1913 Webster]

  "Bridges commanded by a fortified house."  [1913 Webster]

  "Up to the eastern tower,
  Whose height commands as subject all the vale."  [1913 Webster]

  "One side commands a view of the finest garden."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "'Tis not in mortals to command success."  [1913 Webster]
•  To direct to come; to bestow.  [1913 Webster]

  "I will command my blessing upon you."

Syn. -- To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule; overlook.

Command, v. i. 

•  To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to sway; to influence; to give an order or orders.  [1913 Webster]

  "And reigned, commanding in his monarchy."  [1913 Webster]

  "For the king had so commanded concerning [Haman]."  [1913 Webster]
•  To have a view, as from a superior position.  [1913 Webster]

  "Far and wide his eye commands."  [1913 Webster]

Command, n. 

•  An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an injunction.  [1913 Webster]

  "Awaiting what command their mighty chief
  Had to impose."  [1913 Webster]
•  The possession or exercise of authority.  [1913 Webster]

  "Command and force may often create, but can never cure, an aversion."  [1913 Webster]
•  Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the forces under his command.  [1913 Webster]
•  Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of position; scope of vision; survey.  [1913 Webster]

  "The steepy stand
  Which overlooks the vale with wide command."  [1913 Webster]
•  Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has command of the bridge.  [1913 Webster]

  "He assumed an absolute command over his readers."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

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.

Syn. -- Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion; sovereignty; mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest. See Direction.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Command, v. & n.
--v.tr.
1 (often foll. by to + infin., or that + clause) give formal order or instructions to (commands us to obey; commands that it be done).
2 (also absol.) have authority or control over.
3 a (often refl.) restrain, master. b gain the use of; have at one's disposal or within reach (skill, resources, etc.) (commands an extensive knowledge of history; commands a salary of {pound}40,000).
4 deserve and get (sympathy, respect, etc.).
5 Mil. dominate (a strategic position) from a superior height; look down over.
--n.
1 an authoritative order; an instruction.
2 mastery, control, possession (a good command of languages; has command of the resources).
3 the exercise or tenure of authority, esp. naval or military (has command of this ship).
4 Mil. a a body of troops etc. (Bomber Command). b a district under a commander (Western Command).
5 Computing a an instruction causing a computer to perform one of its basic functions. b a signal initiating such an operation.

Idiom

at command ready to be used at will. at (or by) a person's command in pursuance of a person's bidding. command module the control compartment in a spacecraft. Command Paper (in the UK) a paper laid before Parliament by command of the Crown. command performance (in the UK) a theatrical or film performance given by royal command. command post the headquarters of a military unit. in command of commanding; having under control. under command of commanded by. word of command
1 Mil. an order for a movement in a drill etc.
2 a prearranged spoken signal for the start of an operation.

Etymology

ME f. AF comaunder, OF comander f. LL commandare COMMEND

THESAURUS

Command

ALGOL, COBOL, FORTRAN, ability, acme, address, adeptness, administer, administrate, administration, adroitness, airmanship, alphabetic data, alphanumeric code, angular data, animus, aplomb, appetence, appetency, appetite, apprehension, artfulness, artisanship, artistry, ask, assembler, assurance, attract, authority, authorization, be enfeoffed of, be expert in, be learned in, be master, be master of, be possessed of, be responsible for, be seized of, be up on, be well-informed, be-all and end-all, behest, bestraddle, bestride, bid, bidding, binary digit, binary scale, binary system, bit, blue ribbon, boast, bravura, brilliance, bug, byte, call on, call the signals, call upon, canon, capability, capacity, captain, carry on, chair, championship, charge, choice, choose, choose to, claim, clairvoyance, claws, clear, cleverness, clutches, coerce, command pulses, commands, commission, compel, competence, compiler, comprehension, computer code, computer language, computer program, conation, conatus, conception, conceptualization, conduct, confidence, constrain, control, control signals, controlled quantity, coordination, correcting signals, craft, craftsmanship, cunning, data, decide, decision, declare, decree, deftness, demand, desire, determination, determine, devoir, dexterity, dexterousness, dextrousness, dictate, diplomacy, direct, direction, directive, directorship, discipline, discretion, disposition, dominate, domination, dominion, draw on, duty, earn, effectiveness, efficiency, empery, empire, engineer, enjoin, enjoy, error, error signals, exact, expertise, expertism, expertness, eyereach, eyeshot, eyesight, facility, fancy, feedback pulses, feedback signals, field of view, field of vision, fill, film data, finesse, first place, first prize, force, foreknowledge, free choice, free will, give an order, give the word, govern, governance, government, grace, grasp, grip, gripe, guidance, hand, handiness, handle, handling, hands, have, have and hold, have down pat, have in hand, have it taped, have tenure of, head, head up, headship, hegemony, height, helm, hexadecimal system, highest, hold, horizon, horsemanship, husbandry, ideation, imperium, inclination, influence, information, ingeniousness, ingenuity, injunction, input data, input quantity, instruct, instruction, instructions, intellection, intelligence, intention, iron hand, issue a command, issue a writ, jurisdiction, ken, kingship, knack, know backwards, know by heart, know damn well, know inside out, know the ropes, know the score, know well, know-how, lad, law, lead, lead on, leadership, leading, liking, limit of vision, line of sight, look down upon, lordship, lust, machine language, make the rules, manage, management, managery, managing, mandate, maneuver, manipulate, manipulation, marksmanship, master, mastermind, mastership, mastery, maximum, mental grasp, message, might, mind, most, multiple messages, naked eye, ne plus ultra, new high, noise, numeric data, objective, obligation, oblige, occupy, octal system, officer, ordain, order, order about, ordering, ordinance, oscillograph data, outlook, outlook over, output data, output quantity, outtop, overarch, overlook, overshadow, oversight, overtop, palms, paramountcy, passion, perspective, pilotage, play, pleasure, poise, polar data, possess, power, practical ability, precept, precognition, prehension, prescribe, prescript, prescription, preside over, presidency, primacy, proclaim, proficiency, promulgate, pronounce, prospect, prowess, pull the strings, punch-card data, quarterback, quickness, raj, random data, range, readiness, record, rectangular data, reference quantity, regnancy, regulate, regulation, reign, reins of government, request, require, resolution, resolve, resource, resourcefulness, responsibility, rise above, rule, ruly English, run, running, savoir-faire, savvy, say, say the word, scan, scope, scope of vision, seamanship, see fit, sexual desire, sight, sightliness, signals, single messages, skill, skillfulness, skipper, sovereignty, squat, squat on, stand over, statute, steerage, steering, stewardship, strings, style, summon, supervise, supremacy, surmount, survey, sway, tact, tactfulness, take command, take the lead, talons, teaching, technical brilliance, technical mastery, technical skill, technique, tell, the conn, the helm, the wheel, think fit, think good, think proper, timing, top, top spot, tower above, tower over, understanding, unorganized data, usucapt, velleity, view, virtuosity, visible-speech data, vista, volition, warn, wield authority, will, will power, wisdom, wish, wit, wizardry, word, workmanship, zenith

ROGET THESAURUS

Command

Requirement

N requirement, need, wants, necessities, necessaries, necessaries of life, stress, exigency, pinch, sine qua non, matter of necessity, case of need, case of life or death, needfulness, essentiality, necessity, indispensability, urgency, requisition, run upon, demand, call for, charge, claim, command, injunction, mandate, order, precept, desideratum, want, Adj, required, requisite, needful, necessary, imperative, essential, indispensable, prerequisite, called for, in demand, in request, urgent, exigent, pressing, instant, crying, absorbing, in want of, destitute of, ex necessitate rei, of necessity, there is no time to lose, it cannot be spared, it cannot be dispensed with, mendacem memorem esse oportet, necessitas non habet legem, nec tecum possum trivere nec sine te.

Direction

N direction, management, managery, government, gubernation, conduct, legislation, regulation, guidance, bossism, legislature, steerage, pilotage, reins, reins of government, helm, rudder, needle, compass, guiding star, load star, lode star, pole star, cynosure, supervision, superintendence, surveillance, oversight, eye of the master, control, charge, board of control, command, premiership, senatorship, director, chair, portfolio, statesmanship, statecraft, kingcraft, queencraft, ministry, ministration, administration, stewardship, proctorship, agency, director, directing, hegemonic, at the helm, at the head of, direction, bearing, course, vector, set, drift, tenor, tendency, incidence, bending, trending, dip, tack, aim, collimation, steering steerage, point of the compass, cardinal points, North East, South, West, N by E, ENE, NE by N, NE, rhumb, azimuth, line of collimation, line, path, road, range, quarter, line of march, alignment, allignment, air line, beeline, straight shoot, directed, directed towards, pointing towards, bound for, aligned, with alligned with, direct, straight, undeviating, unswerving, straightforward, North, Northern, Northerly, towards, on the road, on the high road to, en avant, versus, to, hither, thither, whither, directly, straight as an arrow, forwards as an arrow, point blank, in a bee line to, in a direct line to, as the crow flies, in a straight line to, in a bee line for, in a direct line for, in a straight line for, in a bee line with, in a direct line with, in a straight line with, in a line with, full tilt at, as the crow flies, before the wind, near the wind, close to the wind, against the wind, windwards, in the wind's eye, through, via, by way of, in all directions, in all manner of ways, quaquaversum, from the four winds, the shortest distance between two points is a stra.

Government

N government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority, authority, master, direction, national government, nation, state, country, nation- state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic, kingdom, principality, state government, state, shire, province, county, canton, territory, duchy, archduchy, archdukedom, woiwodshaft, commonwealth, region, property, county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement, mofussil, commune, wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth, soke, tithing, ward, precinct, bailiwick, command, empire, sway, rule, dominion, domination, sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty, lordship, headship, chiefdom, seigniory, seigniority, rule, sway, command, control, administer, govern, lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne, sway the scepter, wield the scepter, wear the crown, state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus, judicature, cabinet, seat of government, seat of authority, headquarters, accession, installation, politics, reign, regime, dynasty, directorship, dictatorship, protectorate, protectorship, caliphate, pashalic, electorate, presidency, presidentship, administration, proconsul, consulship, prefecture, seneschalship, magistrature, magistracy, monarchy, kinghood, kingship, royalty, regality, aristarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy, commonwealth, dominion, heteronomy, republic, republicanism, socialism, collectivism, mob law, mobocracy, ochlocracy, vox populi, imperium in imperio, bureaucracy, beadledom, bumbledom, stratocracy, military power, military government, junta, feodality, feudal system, feudalism, thearchy, theocracy, dinarchy, duarchy, triarchy, heterarchy, duumvirate, triumvirate, autocracy, autonomy, limited monarchy, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, home rule, representative government, monocracy, pantisocracy, gynarchy, gynocracy, gynaeocracy, petticoat government, legislature, judiciary, administration, office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet, senate, house of representatives, parliament, council, courts, supreme court, state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Postal Service, Post Office, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister, senator, representatative, president pro tem, speaker of the house, department head, section head, section chief, federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice, treasurer, secretary of the treasury, director of the FBI, governor, state cabinet member, state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman, regal, sovereign, governing, royal, royalist, monarchical, kingly, imperial, imperiatorial, princely, feudal, aristocratic, autocratic, oligarchic, republican, dynastic, ruling, regnant, gubernatorial, imperious, authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute, hegemonic, hegemonical, authorized, government, public, national, federal, his majesty's, her majesty's, state, county, city, N, a dog's obeyed in office, cada uno tiene su alguazil, le Roi le veut, regibus esse manus en nescio longas, regnant populi, the demigod Authority, the right divine of kings to govern wrong, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority, authority, master, direction, national government, nation, state, country, nation- state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic, kingdom, principality, state government, state, shire, province, county, canton, territory, duchy, archduchy, archdukedom, woiwodshaft, commonwealth, region, property, county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement, mofussil, commune, wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth, soke, tithing, ward, precinct, bailiwick, command, empire, sway, rule, dominion, domination, sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty, lordship, headship, chiefdom, seigniory, seigniority, rule, sway, command, control, administer, govern, lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne, sway the scepter, wield the scepter, wear the crown, state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus, judicature, cabinet, seat of government, seat of authority, headquarters, accession, installation, politics, reign, regime, dynasty, directorship, dictatorship, protectorate, protectorship, caliphate, pashalic, electorate, presidency, presidentship, administration, proconsul, consulship, prefecture, seneschalship, magistrature, magistracy, monarchy, kinghood, kingship, royalty, regality, aristarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy, commonwealth, dominion, heteronomy, republic, republicanism, socialism, collectivism, mob law, mobocracy, ochlocracy, vox populi, imperium in imperio, bureaucracy, beadledom, bumbledom, stratocracy, military power, military government, junta, feodality, feudal system, feudalism, thearchy, theocracy, dinarchy, duarchy, triarchy, heterarchy, duumvirate, triumvirate, autocracy, autonomy, limited monarchy, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, home rule, representative government, monocracy, pantisocracy, gynarchy, gynocracy, gynaeocracy, petticoat government, legislature, judiciary, administration, office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet, senate, house of representatives, parliament, council, courts, supreme court, state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Postal Service, Post Office, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister, senator, representatative, president pro tem, speaker of the house, department head, section head, section chief, federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice, treasurer, secretary of the treasury, director of the FBI, governor, state cabinet member, state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman, regal, sovereign, governing, royal, royalist, monarchical, kingly, imperial, imperiatorial, princely, feudal, aristocratic, autocratic, oligarchic, republican, dynastic, ruling, regnant, gubernatorial, imperious, authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute, hegemonic, hegemonical, authorized, government, public, national, federal, his majesty's, her majesty's, state, county, city, N, a dog's obeyed in office, cada uno tiene su alguazil, le Roi le veut, regibus esse manus en nescio longas, regnant populi, the demigod Authority, the right divine of kings to govern wrong, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Command

N command, order, ordinance, act, fiat, hukm, bidding, dictum, hest, behest, call, beck, nod, despatch, dispatch, message, direction, injunction, charge, instructions, appointment, fixture, demand, exaction, imposition, requisition, claim, reclamation, revendication, ultimatum, request, requirement, dictation, dictate, mandate, caveat, decree, senatus consultum, precept, prescript, rescript, writ, ordination, bull, ex cathedra pronouncement, edict, decretal, dispensation, prescription, brevet, placit, ukase, ukaz, firman, hatti- sherif, warrant, passport, mittimus, mandamus, summons, subpoena, nisi prius, interpellation, citation, word, word of command, mot d'ordre, bugle call, trumpet call, beat of drum, tattoo, order of the day, enactment, plebiscite, commanding, authoritative, decretory, decretive, decretal, callable, jussive, in a commanding tone, by a stroke of the pen, by a dash of the pen, by order, at beat of drum, on the first summons, the decree is gone forth, sic volo sic jubeo, le Roi le veut, boutez en avant.

VB command, order, decree, enact, ordain, dictate, direct, give orders, prescribe, set, appoint, mark out, set a task, prescribe a task, impose a task, set to work, put in requisition, bid, enjoin, charge, call upon, instruct, require at the hands of, exact, impose, tax, task, demand, insist on, claim, lay claim to, revendicate, reclaim, cite, summon, call for, send for, subpoena, beckon, issue a command, make a requisition, issue a requisition, promulgate a requisition, make a decree, issue a decree, promulgate a decree, make an order, issue an order, promulgate an order, give the word of command, give the word, give the signal, call to order, give the law, lay down the law, assume the command, remand, be ordered, receive an order.

Possession

VB possess, have, hold, occupy, enjoy, be possessed of, have in hand, own, command, inherit, come to, come in for, engross, monopolize, forestall, regrate, impropriate, have all to oneself, corner, have a firmhold of, get into one's hand, belong to, appertain to, pertain to, be in one's possession, vest in.

Height

VB be high, tower, soar, command, hover, hover over, fly over, orbit, be in orbit, cap, culminate, overhang, hang over, impend, beetle, bestride, ride, mount, perch, surmount, cover, overtop, stand on tiptoe, become high, grow higher, grow taller, upgrow, rise, send into orbit, render high, heighten.