commissary

[ kom-uh-ser-ee ]
/ ˈkɒm əˌsɛr i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR commissary ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural com·mis·sar·ies.

a store that sells food and supplies to the personnel or workers in a military post, mining camp, lumber camp, or the like.
a dining room or cafeteria, especially one in a motion-picture studio.
a person to whom some responsibility or role is delegated by a superior power; a deputy.
(in France) a police official, usually just below the police chief in rank.
commissar.

QUIZZES

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weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
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Origin of commissary

1350–1400; Middle English commissarie (< Anglo-French) < Medieval Latin commissārius, equivalent to Latin commiss(us) (past participle of committere to commit) + -ārius -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM commissary

com·mis·sar·i·al [kom-i-sair-ee-uh l] /ˌkɒm ɪˈsɛər i əl/, adjectivesub·com·mis·sar·i·al, adjectivesub·com·mis·sar·y, noun, plural sub·com·mis·sar·ies.

Words nearby commissary

commiserate, commish, commissaire, commissar, commissariat, commissary, commission, commission for racial equality, commission house, commission merchant, commission plan
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to commissary

legate, representative, agent

Example sentences from the Web for commissary

British Dictionary definitions for commissary

commissary
/ (ˈkɒmɪsərɪ) /

noun plural -saries

US a shop supplying food or equipment, as in a military camp
US army an officer responsible for supplies and food
US a snack bar or restaurant in a film studio
a representative or deputy, esp an official representative of a bishop

Derived forms of commissary

commissarial (ˌkɒmɪˈsɛərɪəl), adjectivecommissaryship, noun

Word Origin for commissary

C14: from Medieval Latin commissārius official in charge, from Latin committere to entrust, commit
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