Etymologically
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commissionarius

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Forms

commissionārius m (genitive commissionāriī); second declension[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin commissiō (“a committing; in Medieval Latin, a delegation of business”) + -ārius.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates the first record to 1316, from Latham's word list.[2] The DMLBS quotes it from 1435 as an adjective, of letters of commission, and as a noun for a commissioner or delegate.[1]

Semantic evolution

In English records it named the king's commissioners and delegates: commissioners of the king in a county (1414), the admiral's commissaries and commissioners (1440), commissioners who assessed the value of monastic property (1535).[1] A patent of Elizabeth I of 1559 appoints commissioners to treat with her subjects.[1][4]

English commissioner (early 15th century) came from Anglo-French commissionaire, itself from or modelled on the Medieval Latin word.[3] Du Cange notes that the French commissionnaire was an agent who carried on a merchant's business.[4]

Timeline

  • 1316 – First recorded, according to Köbler.[2]
  • 1414 – Used of the king's commissioners in a county.[1]
  • 1435 – Litterae commissionariae, letters of commission, in a Canterbury register.[1]
  • 1559 – Elizabeth I appoints commissioners by patent.[1][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A commissioner, delegate.[1][4]

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin, law) Of a commission: litterae commissionariae, letters of commission.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre