a. and sb. Also 7–8 command-. [ad. late L. commendātōrius, f. commendātor: see prec. and -ORY.]
A. adj.
1. Having the attribute of commending or recommending.
1555. [see b].
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 405. Let the Fathers be … eloquent in theyr commendatory Declamations.
1641. Milton, Ch. Discip., I. (1851), 10. The commendatory subscriptions of Confessors and Martyrs.
1833. H. Coleridge, North. Worthies (1852), I. 43. A copy of commendatory verses.
1837. Thackeray, Ravenswing, vii. He would venture upon a commendatory grin.
b. Commendatory letter or epistle: a letter commending a person to favorable notice or reception; esp. a testimonial or letter of introduction given for this purpose by a bishop to a member of his diocese when about to travel.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 308. He had receaued letters commendatori of pope Leo the tenth.
1568. Grafton, Chron. Hen. VIII., an. 17 (R.). That no Englishman should enter into Scotland, without letters commendatory of theyr awne souereigne lorde.
1672. Cave, Prim. Chr., III. iii. (1673), 309. Commendatory Epistles granted to all whether Clergie or Laity that were to travel, as Tickets of Hospitality.
1783. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), IV. Bellerophontis literas portare; when a man carrieth commendatory letters to his own hurt.
c. Commendatory prayer: in the Anglican Liturgy, a prayer in which a person at the point of death is commended to the mercy of God.
1661. Prayer-bk., Rubric in Burial Office. A commendatory prayer for a sick person at the point of departure.
1865. Reader, & July, 30. Their heroes appear … to live that they may die with the Commendatory Prayer on their lips.
2. Holding a benefice in commendam.
1682. G. Vernon, Life Heylyn, 67. John, Lord Bishop of Lincoln, then Commendatory-Dean thereof.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 295. The estates possessed by bishops and canons, and commendatory abbots.
1872. O. Shipley, Gloss. Eccl. Terms, s.v. Abbot, Some abbots secular were commendatory, enjoying a portion of the revenues.
b. Held in commendam.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 206. The bishopricks, and the great commendatory abbies, were, with few exceptions, held by that order [the nobility].
3. Pertaining to feudal commendation.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (ed. 3), I. iii. 127. The feudal or commendatory relation is a very delicate relation.
B. sb.
† 1. A commendatory fact or word. Obs.
1641. Cheke’s Life, in Hurt Sedit., B iv b. The … King upon the sole commendatories of his former deservings reserved that honour for him.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 63. A sufficient evidence and commendatory of his own piety.
a. 1714. Sharp, Serm., I. i. (R.). Whatever did but bear … the superscription of the holy Jesus would need no other commendatories to our affection.
a. 1716. South, Serm., VIII. vii. (R.). Just as if Cicero had spoke commendatories of Anthony.
† 2. A knight-commander. Obs.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., III. VII. (Arb.), 165. Chiefe Commendatory of the order of the knyghtes of Alcantara.
1759. State Papers, in Ann. Reg., 220/2. Degraded of the order of St. Jago, of which he was a commendatory.
1762. trans. Busching’s Syst. Geog., V. 560. The palace of the commendatory of the Teutonick order … once stood here.
† 3. One who holds a benefice in commendam.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1677), 337. Condemned to die for keeping intelligence with the Commendatory of Driburgh.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 191. In Process of Time Commendatories, by divers Pretences of Honesty and Necessity made use of the Fruits themselves.
† 4. = COMMANDERY. Obs.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 127. The Knights of this order … became possessed of … beautiful monasteries and manye fayre Commendatories.
1762. trans. Busching’s Syst. Geog., V. 533. The Stadtholder of the bailiwick of Thuringia and the Commandatory of Grifstadt.
† 5. = COMMENDAM 2. Obs.
1755. R. Keith, Catal. Scot. Bps. (1824), 36. His uncle, now become primate of St. Andrew’s, resigned in his favour the commendatory of Arbroath.
1849. J. Grant, Mem. Kirkaldy Gr., xxi. 245. His Commendatory of Coldingham [was given] to Home of Manderston.
