commentate
[kom-uh n-teyt]
- to deliver a commentary on: to commentate a fashion show.
- to write a commentary on; annotate: to commentate the Book of Job.
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- to serve as a commentator: The senior staff member will commentate, as usual.
- to make explanatory or critical comments, as upon a text: the manuscript on which I am commentating.
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Origin of commentate
First recorded in 1785–95; back formation from commentator
Usage note
Since the late 18th century, commentate has been used transitively with the meaning “to annotate” and, since the mid 19th, intransitively with the meaning “to make explanatory or critical comments.” These uses are now rare. Recently, commentate has developed the additional transitive sense “to deliver a commentary on” and the intransitive sense “to serve as a commentator.” These uses are occasionally criticized as journalistic jargon.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
portraydepictreadillustrateexplaindescribeclarifyunderstandconstruedeciphersolvetranslateenactviewnotesaydeclarementionobserveutterExamples from the Web for commentate
Contemporary Examples
What happens when a British guy who knows nothing about baseball tries to commentate a baseball game?
commentate
- (intr) to serve as a commentator
- (tr) US to make a commentary on (a text, event, etc)
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usage
The verb commentate, derived from commentator, is sometimes used as a synonym for comment on or provide a commentary for. It is not yet fully accepted as standard, though widespread in sports reporting and journalism
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for commentate
v.
1794, "to comment," back-formation from commentator. Meaning "to deliver commentary" is attested from 1939 (implied in commentating). Related: Commentated; commentating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper