mandate English · revision 10750

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1501|origins=frm mandat|origins=la mandatum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun: /ˈmæn.deɪt/; verb: UK /mænˈdeɪt/, US /ˈmæn.deɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|mandat]] and directly from Latin mandātum, a command, commission,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) the noun use of the neuter past participle of mandāre, to order, commit to one's charge,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) probably from manus, hand (see [[manual]]), and dare, to give, “to give into one's hand”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A judicial or legal command from a superior: 1501 in the OED, about 1500 in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) a command, order, 1552 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A papal rescript is from 1611,^(OED 1989) and a contract by which one person acts for another from the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986) The political sense, the authority supposedly given by voters to the policies of an election winner, is from 1796.^(Etymonline) A commission from the League of Nations to govern a territory, and the territory itself, is from 1919,^(Etymonline) a sense influenced by French mandat.^(NODE 1998) The verb is from 1623, in Cockeram's Dictionary;^(Barnhart 1988) to delegate authority is from 1958,^(Etymonline) and to make compulsory by law is a modern American use.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Mandatory'' is from 1576.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1501 – a legal command.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1576 – mandatory.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1623 – to mandate (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1796 – an electoral mandate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1919 – a League of Nations mandate.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An official command or instruction.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The authority given to a government or representative by an [[election]] victory.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(history)'' A commission from the League of Nations to govern a territory, or the territory itself.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To require by law; to make [[mandatory]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give authority to act.^(Collins 2023)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mandator]]

+ * [[mandatary]]

+ * [[mandatory]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[command]]

+ * [[commend]]

+ * [[demand]]

+ * [[remand]]

+ * [[countermand]]

+ * [[manual]]

+ * [[recommend]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}