commissioner English · revision 5213

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1448|origins=la commissio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈmɪ.ʃə.nə/ ''(UK)''; /kəˈmɪ.ʃə.nəɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|commissioner]], [[bor|xno|commissionaire]], from or on the model of [[la-med|commissionarius|t=one entrusted with a commission]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|commissio|t=act of committing; in Medieval Latin, delegation of business]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) MWU explains it as formed in Middle English from commissioun and [[-er]].^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[commission]] and [[commit]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One appointed by a commission from a proper authority to carry out some business: 1448 in the OED, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A member of a permanent commission or government board is from 1532 in the OED, the 1530s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In the United States it came to mean one elected to manage the affairs of a municipality.^(Etymonline) In 19th-century slang a commissioner was also a betting broker (1860).^(OED 1989) The short form ''commish'' is attested by 1910.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1448 – one appointed by commission.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1532 – a member of a commission or board.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1860 – slang, a bookmaker.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1910 – ''commish''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A member of a [[commission]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A government official in charge of a department or district.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person given authority to carry out particular duties.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' An official who governs a professional sport or [[league]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[commissionership]]

+ * [[subcommissioner]]

+ * [[high commissioner]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[commission]]

+ * [[commit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}