Forms: 5 comyscyoner, commyssyoner, 6 -ar, -issionar, -yssioner, etc., 5– -issioner. [In form, f. COMMISSION sb.1 + -ER1, but really an anglicized form of F. and Anglo-F. commission(n)aire, corresp. to med.L. commissiōnārius, f. commissiōn-em: see -ARY, -ER1; the sense being ‘one belonging to or entrusted with a COMMISSION.’]
1. One appointed or deputed by commission to carry out some specified work, such as a judicial or other investigation, the negotiation of a treaty, peace, etc.; a delegate; also, a member of a commission charged with such a business.
1448. J. Shillingford, Lett. (Camden Soc.), App. 139. Payde to the mynesters of the seide citee … or to other comyscyoners.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 153. Vycayrs, lieuetenauntes or commyssyoners of the kyng.
1557. Paynel, Barclay’s Jugurth, 44. Electe to be one of the examinours or commyssioners to make inquisicion of these thre pointes.
1625. Sir J. Stradling, Div. Poems, 112. The Devil had Commissioners abroad.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., I. III. 183. No commissioner appeared in the name of the king and queen.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 65. Two several missions had arrived … to propose a conference at Donabew with the British commissioners.
1843. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 93. [In the Scottish Parliament] the commissioners of the burghs were considered merely as retainers of the great nobles.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. ix. 155. Inquiries by Royal commissioners are instituted solely by exercise of the Royal prerogative, or may be regulated by statute.
b. A member of a permanently constituted commission or government board; esp. in the titles of such boards, as the Railway and Canal Traffic Commissioners, Charity Commissioners, Civil Service Commissioners, Ecclesiastical Commissioners, Commissioners of Inland Revenue, of Income Tax, etc. In Scotland, one of the persons elected to manage the affairs of a non-corporate town, corresponding to the bailies or councillors in burghs.
In 17th c. applied to a J.P., as a member of the Commission of the Peace.
1532. Act 23 Hen. VIII., c. 5. Euery of the said Commissioners shall haue and perceiue foure shillings for euery day that they shall take paine in the execution of this commission of Sewers.
1613. Beaum. & Fl., Coxcomb, V. i. What a clod-pole commissioner is this!
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), 40/1. The Arch Bishop … was … made one of the Commissioners of the Treasury.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. vi. § 51. One Hynde called before the Commissioners Ecclesiastical for Usury.
1716. Lond. Gaz., No. 5449/3. Charles Cockburn, Esq., to be one of the Commissioners of Police in North-Britain.
1803. Med. Jrnl., X. 169. The Commissioners of Stamps … did their best to prevent the prosecution of individuals for the sale of what I term innocent articles.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, II. 457. (Hoppe) The sewers within the City … are in a distinct and strictly defined jurisdiction, superintended by City-Commissioners.
1886. Whitaker’s Almanack, 143. Charity Commissioners for England and Wales … Chief Commissioner … Second Commissioner … Commissioners … Assistant Commissioners.
c. The representative of the supreme authority in a district, governmental department, etc.; now the recognized title of officials at the head of various branches of the public service, etc.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Macc. ii. 25. Matathias … slewe ye kynges commissioner, that compelled him to do sacrifice.
1609. Bible (Douay), II. Index. Heliodorus a sacrilegious commissioner was severely beaten by Angels.
1640. W. Bradshaw, Unreas. Separation, 100. That … the civil magistrate hath power to set over the churches of Christ in his dominions, commissioners and overseers which are not specially appointed by Christ in his Testament.
1884. R. G. W. Herbert, in Pall Mall G., 17 Nov., 8/1. You have been selected by her Majesty’s Government for the appointment of Special Commissioner in Bechuanaland.
1886. Whitaker’s Almanack, 140. Works and Public Buildings … First Commissioner. Ibid., 148. Metropolitan Police Office … Commissioner … Assistant-Commissioner. Ibid., 296. Provinces, etc. under the Administration of … Chief Commissioners, Assam, British Burma, Central Provinces.
d. † Commissioner of bankrupt: an official formerly appointed by commission of the Lord Chancellor to administer the estate of a bankrupt. Lord High Commissioner: the representative of the Crown at the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
1708–15. Kersey, The King’s High Commissioner in Scotland, a Nobleman, who represents the Person of the King of England.
1766. Cowper, Lett. J. Hill, 27 Oct. If every dealer and chapman was connected with creditors like you, the poor commissioners of bankrupts would be ruined.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 285. Commissioners for that purpose, when a man is declared a bankrupt, shall have full power to dispose of all his lands and tenements.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. Bankrupt, The Lord Chancellor grants a commission to such discreet persons as to him shall seem good, who are then styled commissioners of bankrupt.
1883. Whitaker’s Almanack, 199. The established Church of Scotland … the General Assembly … is presided over by a Moderator … the Sovereign is represented by a Lord High Commissioner.
e. An agent, steward, factor. Sc.
1884. Q. Victoria, More Leaves, 202. Mr. Loch’s father was the commissioner for the late Duke … and the present Mr. Loch … is commissioner to the present Duke.
† 2. C. of Newmarket heath: a foot-pad. slang.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse (ed. 2), 6 a. I am vacuus viator, and care not though I meete the Commissionars of Newmarket-heath at high midnight.
3. A betting-broker; a book-maker. slang.
1860. All Y. Round, No. 75. 582. Legs—that is Blacklegs—the betting brokers were formerly called; but now … they are Turfmen or Commissioners.
1887. E. J. Goodman, Too Curious, viii. Right you are, sir, exclaimed the commissioner, taking out his betting-book and pencil.
† 4. One who commits a crime, etc. Obs.
a. 1677. W. Greenhill, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. ix. 12. Authors, contrivers, and commissioners of this scarlet sin.
5. Sometimes used for COMMISSIONAIRE.
In mod. Dicts.
6. One who commissions.
In mod. Dicts.
7. attrib. and Comb.
1640. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 49. They had served His Majesty in quality of Commissioners-Ambassadors.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 39. I caused my commissioner letter of mart to be read to them all.
1837. Syd. Smith, Lett. Singleton, Wks. 1859, II. 268/1. The love of what is just had not excited the Commissioner-Bishops.
