commandery

American  

[kuh-man-duh-ree, -mahn-] / kəˈmæn də ri, -ˈmɑn- /

noun

plural

commanderies

1. the office or rank of a commander.

2. the district of a commander.

3. a district controlled by a commander of certain medieval orders of knights.

4. a local branch or lodge of certain secret or fraternal orders.

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Etymology

Origin of commandery

1400–50; late Middle English. See commander, -y ³

Example Sentences

The bailiwicks, or commanderies, in this province, were,— 1.

From Project Gutenberg

In this village, which is on the direct road from London to Lincoln, there was a commandery, or associated body of Knights Templars, founded in the time of Richard I., by John le Mareshall.

From Project Gutenberg

The function of receiver consisted in collecting the revenues of the various commanderies on account of the knights of Rhodes actually at Malta.

From Project Gutenberg

The property of the order was divided into “priorates,” subdivided into “bailiwicks,” which in turn were divided into “commanderies”; these were placed in charge of a “commendator” or commander.

From Project Gutenberg

In all, there were two abbeys, two collegiate churches, the cathedral, forty-nine chapels, thirty-nine monasteries, two convents for women, and many commanderies of the Teutonic order and the Order of Malta.

From Project Gutenberg