[In form ad. L. commentātiōn-em meditation, study, enthymeme, also, a study, treatise, dissertation, n. of action f. commentāri to meditate, reflect on, study, compose, discuss, write upon; the modern sense goes with that of comment, commentary, etc.]
† 1. a. An expository note, a comment, a gloss. b. An expository treatise, a commentary. Obs.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 512/1. Let vs not take this commentation and charge that is conteined here … but let vs heare God speake.
1645. M. Casaubon, Orig. Temp. Evils, 19. Learned Mr. Vossius … in his elaborate Commentations De Origine Idolatriæ.
1712. Spotswood, in W. S. Perry, Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch., 1. 191. Some good commentations upon the Scriptures.
† 2. Invention, devising; sometimes, with mixture of 1, comment which is a mere invention or concoction. Obs. Cf. COMMENT v. 1.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 127. Magick and astrologie, and mens fanaticall opinions and commentations thereupon.
a. 1734. North, Exam., I. iv. § 5. Meer Inventions and Commentations of Faction. Ibid., Lives (1826), II. 385. By subtile commentations, and wild inferences.
† 3. Meditation, excogitation. Obs. rare–1.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. 207. His Papers of long study, and much commentation.
4. The making of comments; commenting.
1833. New Monthly Mag., XXXVII. 89. The sort of commentation that has been made on the election.
1857. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc., I. 205. These causes … make criticism and commentation flourish.
1875. G. Dawson, Shaks. & other Lect. (1888), 117. Much of the commentation upon Shakespeare.
