v. Forms: 4–6 committe, -ytte, 5 comytt(e, 5–6 commyt, 6 commytt, conmit, 6–7 comyt, 7 committ, comitt, 5– commit. Pa. t. and pple. committed; also contr. pa. pple. 5 comytt, 6 commytte, commit. [ME. committe, ad. L. committ-ĕre to put together, join, also (com- intensive) to put for safety, give in charge, entrust, deliver, f. com- + mitt-ĕre to send, put forth, etc. Another type had been previously taken from French as comise, COMMISE.]
I. To give in charge, entrust, consign.
1. trans. To give to some one to take care of, keep, or deal with; to give in charge or trust, entrust, consign to (a person, his care, judgment, etc.).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melibeus, ¶ 339. Thanne shul ye committe the kepyng of youre persone to youre trewe freendes.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxcvi. The fatall Influence, Causit from hevyn, quhare powar Is commytt Of gouernance.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 33 a. Committe alle thy causes to god.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., II. xxxiii. 26. To this woman … was commytted all the gouernaunce of the lande.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xvi. 20. Dauid … commytted the shepe to ye keper.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 6. The christin pepil committit to our cure.
1611. Bible, Ps. xxxi. 5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit.
1747. Col. Rec. Penn., V. 122. In committing goods of such a value to the Indian Traders.
1870. Stanhope, Hist. Eng., II. x. 61. He could not venture to land the troops committed to his charge.
† b. To commend by prayer or imprecation.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 113. Committing them wholy to the Devill for their contumacie.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 60. I sett end to these matters; comyttinge you to god, and me to your curtesye.
c. refl. in sense 1. Also, to trust oneself to (the elements, the sea, etc.); formerly also absol. = refl.
1538. Starkey, England, I. i. 22. To them wych in grete tempest wyl commyt themselfe to the daungerys of the see.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 68. The king … understanding that the Archbishop would commit himselfe to his arbitrement.
1599. Hayward, 1st Pt. Life Hen. IV., 68. Assoone as the Duke was come into Brittaine, he waged certaine souldiours, and presently departed to Calice, and so committed to sea for England.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), Pref. 8. By curing of such as committed themselves to his weak skill.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 150, ¶ 8. To set rocks … at defiance … and commit his life to the winds.
1838. S. Parker, Explor. Tour (1846), 51. Committing myself to God.
d. To commit administration: see quots.
1559. [see COMMITTING vbl. sb.].
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, § 200. If that he make no executours … the ordinary may commit the administration of his goods to others.
1607–72. Cowell Interpr., s.v. Administrator … If the Administrator die … it behoves the Ordinary to commit a new administration.
a. 1626. Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law, 68. The Archbishop of that province where he dyed is to commit the administration.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 506. It is necessary for the ordinary to commit administration afresh, of the goods of the deceased not administred.
e. To commit to writing (to paper, etc.): to put in writing, write down lor preservation, record in writing; so † to commit to history (obs.). To commit to memory; also simply to commit (colloq.): to learn by heart.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 69. Alanus, Herbertus, and other … that commytted to story the doyngs of Becket.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 226. The Epistle is worthie to be committed to memorie.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, I. (1723), 72. There was little Leisure to committ any thing to Writing.
1741. Watts, Improv. Mind (1801), 143. Things which we would commit to our remembrance.
1793. G. Crump, in T. Beddoes, Lett. to E. Darwin, 33. Not having committed any thing to paper relative to him.
1875. Jowett, Plato, ed. 2, V. 129. No longer compelled to commit to memory many thousand … verses.
1883. Manch. Guardian, 22 Oct., 5/4. When the bashful bard had committed his verses to print.
Mod. He always writes his speeches carefully first and then commits them.
2. To put into some place or receptacle to be kept safe or dealt with in some way; to consign. Obs. exc. in commit to the earth, to the flames, etc., in which there is now a notion of deliver.
1552. Bk. Com. Prayer, Burial. We therefore commit his body to the ground.
1587. Lett., in Lansd. MS., 115. Art. 93. Committinge the pepper into caskes.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., II. iii. 95. Commit them to the fire.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXIII. 223. I’ll find an urn of gold t’ enclose them … and to rest Commit them.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 847. Taking off the Lead, and committing it to sale.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. ii. 562. Weidly sit … Our Hands committed to our Pockets.
1749. Smollett, Regicide, V. vii. To the cold grave commit my pale remains!
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., II. IX. 187. Great numbers … were … committed to the flames.
1878. Morley, Diderot, I. 165. They committed all the original manuscripts … to the flames.
3. spec. To consign officially to custody or confinement; to send to prison, esp. for a short time or for trial: a. with complement, to prison, etc.
1467. Ord. Worcester, xxxviii., in Eng. Gilds, 391. Wtout he be commytted to prison for felony.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 10 § 1. To take the bodies of the seid persones … and theym to comytte to Warde.
1549. Latimer, 2nd Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 74. He would be punyshed and commytted to ward.
1632. High Commission Cases (Camden), 315. She shalbe committed close prisoner to Newgate.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 401. Committing a Homicide into prison.
1793. Blackstone, Comm. (ed. 12), 343. He may apprehend, and commit to prison, all persons who break the peace.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Three Ages, iii. 96. The magistrates committed the prisoners to the House of Correction for one month each.
1876. Green, Short Hist., vii. 351. Four prelates … were … committed on frivolous pretexts to the Tower.
b. simply.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 387. The Erle of Arondell taken and committed.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. ii. 112. You did commit me.
1656. Bramhall, Replic., vi. 231. Power to administer an Oath, or to commit a Malefactor.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, Wks. 1775, X. 17. This fellow is a gambler, and committed for cheating at play.
1886. Law Rep., Wkly. Notes, 197/1. To commit a solicicor for breach of an order to deliver a bill of costs.
absol. 1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 866. The sheriff had not any authority to commit.
1855. Macaulay, Hist., IV. 623. Justices were unwilling to commit.
4. Legislation. To refer or entrust (a bill, etc.) to a committee.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (1870), 95. To proceede with those Bylles which are comytted.
1640–1. Ld. Digby, Parl. Sp., 9 Feb., 6. This … Petition should bee committed.
1678. Marvell, Growth Popery, 33. This Notorious Bill … was read a second time, and committed.
1778. H. Laurens, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), II. 235. Although your Excellency’s observations are committed, I am much mistaken if every member of Congress is not decided in his opinion in favor of them.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, III. VI. i. 39. This bill … when, in the language of parliament, it was committed, in other words, considered by the House, when the House calls itself a committee.
II. To commission. [Cf. COMMITTEE.]
† 5. To charge with a duty or office; to commission, appoint. Obs.
1475. Bk. Noblesse, 85 The tresorers and chaungers that were comytted to receyve the money.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., II. xxx. 142. And rewlers shal be there commytted for to rewle them.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cccix. 468.
1549. Compl. Scot. (1801), 152. Tua consulis … quha var committit to be cheiffis and captans of the armye of the Romans.
III. To perpetrate or perform (in a bad sense).
[This sense existed in Latin from the earliest period: its actual genesis is doubtful; it may have been ‘to put forth,’ ‘to put together,’ or ‘to engage in.’]
6. To do (something wrong or reprehensible); to perpetrate, be guilty of (a crime, offense, etc.).
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxiv. 90. Thoffence that Eneas hath commytted ayenste me.
1548. Udall, etc., trans. Erasm. Par. Acts, 89 b. I haue committed nothyng agaynst my countreymen.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 18. Yf any man committe murther.
1565. Jewel, Reply Harding (1611), 363. Thou shalt not commit Vsurie to thy Brother.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. vi. 34. When we haue committed God any faults let vs be afrayd.
1611. Bible, Ex. xx. 14. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
16[?]. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 166. The monstrous murder of Nero committed on his mother Agrippina.
1789. Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xiii. § 1. There are some offences which all the world can commit.
1818. Cruise, Digest, (ed. 2), II. 2. That the grantee shall not commit felony or treason.
1876. Green, Short Hist., iv. 166. Responsible for crimes committed within its bounds.
b. (a folly, an error, etc.)
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. vi. 37. Louers cannot see The pretty follies that themselues commit.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Friendship (Arb.), 177. Absurdities, Many … doe commit.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 26. I oft admire, How Nature … could commit Such disproportions.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, VII. i. What radical error had he committed?
1872. E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. iv. 70. It is a piece of folly … which I cannot think of permitting her to commit.
† c. absol. To commit an offense, offend; to commit adultery or fornication. Obs.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Rom., Argt. When man … committed most abominably, both against the law of God, and nature.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. iv. 83. Commit not with mans sworne Spouse.
a. 1613. Overbury, Characters, A Very Woman (N.). She commits with her ears, for certain … she has been lain with in her understanding.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 434. You did not commit against it voluntarily.
1643–60. [see COMMITTING ppl. a. b.].
d. humorously. To do, perform (something put by the speaker on a level with an offense).
1678. Butler, Hud., III. ii. 962. Lampoons, the only Wit, That Men, like Burglary, commit.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 80. The saint once … imprudently committed a miracle.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, II. i. ‘Committing’ puns.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xiv. ‘My dear ma’am,’ said Tom Smart—he had always a great notion of committing the amiable.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., viii. 147. A person commits thus an addition to language.
† e. To commit marriage. (Perh. in 1594 = ‘joined, made up.’)
1594. Lyly, Moth. Bomb., I. iii. 81. I have been tampering as long to have a marriage committed betweene my wench and Memphio’s onely sonne.
a. 1704. L’Estrange (J.). A creeping young fellow committed matrimony with a brisk gamesome lass.
IV. To put together, join, engage, involve.
† 7. To connect, join, unite, fasten. Obs.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 47. Vessels … committyng and ioynyng the testicle to Peritoneum.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 25. Thus are the ribbes committed to the Vertebres.
1667. H. More, Div. Dial., iii. § 28 (1713), 250. A company of Rings closely committed together.
1672. Grew, Anat. Plants, 5. The two main Branches … are not committed into the Seminal Trunk of the Plume.
† 8. To commit battle [L. committere pugnam]: to join battle; to engage in battle. Obs. rare.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 112 b. We be constreyned to commyt batayle and fyght.
1630. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 466. Here was committed that memorable warre.
9. To engage (parties) as opponents or competitors, to match; to bring into contest, involve in hostility (with). ‘A Latinism’ (J.). ? Obs.
1612–5. Bp. Hall, Contempl., VI. Recollect. Treat. 1062. He that hath brought us into this field, hath promised us victory. God knew their strength, ere he offred to commit us. Ibid. (1620), Hon. Mar. Clergy, III. § 18. To be committed with any reasonable or scholler-like antagonist.
1677. Gilpin, Dæmonol. (1867), 240. From hence, as when fire and water are committed together, ariseth a most troublesome conflict.
1804. Castlereagh, in Wellesley’s Disp. (ed. Owen), 262. It commits us in hostility with the three greatest military powers of the empire.
1815. Earl Bathurst, in Gurw., Disp. Wellington, X. 5. I apprehend everything from his committing the army with Buonaparte.
† b. fig. ‘To place in a state of hostility or incongruity’ (J.) Obs. rare–1.
1645. Milton, Sonn., xiii., To H. Lawes. Not to scan With Midas’ ears, committing short and long.
c. To involve in hostile or disagreeable relations; to embroil. [Cf. F. commettre le père avec le fils (Littré).]
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), IV. VII. v. 158. The revolted son … whom it was their interest to commit irrevocably with his father.
10. To expose by some compromising act to possible risk, danger, or suspicion; to involve, compromise. (Sense not in Johnson or Todd; in Webster, 1828.)
Walker says ‘First used in Junius’s Letters in a sense unknown to our former English writers. This sense is borrowed from the French, and has been generally adopted by different writers.’
c. 1770. Junius Lett. (W.). You might have satisfied every duty of political friendship without committing the honor of your sovereign.
1792. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 454. The importance of restraining individuals from committing the peace and honor of the two nations.
1816. J. Gilchrist, Philos. Etym., 37. Yet Dugald Stewart has committed the reputation of his understanding, by asserting, etc.
1863. Mrs. C. Clarke, Shaks. Char., vi. 157. Shakespeare has never once committed his character in such a way that we should refuse cordially to grasp his hand.
b. To engage or pledge by some implicative act (to a particular course).
[1786. Burke, W. Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 227. Warren Hastings, by the said guarantee, did … pledge and commit the publick faith of the company, and the nation.]
1839. W. E. Forster, in T. W. Reid, Life (1888) I. iv. 124. If I be not speedily committed to the slave trade cause, I shall be committed to something else.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xv. 245. Pompey was deeply committed to Cæsar’s agrarian … law.
c. refl. To compromise oneself. d. To pledge oneself by implication to a course (evil or risky).
1799. Walpoliana, xii. 8. They hesitate and wait for the public opinion … they are afraid to commit themselves by speaking out.
1803. Nelson, 29 Dec., in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), V. 336. The Queen … would hardly commit herself in communicating secrets to a Frenchman.
1839. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., IV. ii. 40. This is what comes of committing ourselves to an evil line of conduct.
1861. Sat. Rev., 14 Sept., 269. The strength of a snub lies in the sudden apprehension that we have committed ourselves.
a. 1862. Buckle, Civiliz. (1869), III. iv. 193. The preachers had now committed themselves too far to recede.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xvii. 604. When the question is put barely before them they avoid committing themselves.
¶ Of doubtful sense or position.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccclxxxiv. 650. I commytte neuer to lyue [jamais je ne veulx vivre] without thou shalte derely abye it.
1621. W. Sclater, Tythes (1623), 223. Commit not to incurre suspicion of making so worthy parts seruiceable to priuate respects of any.
¶ ? Error for ‘admit,’ or ‘conduct.’
1598. Famous Vict. Hen. V., ix. 97. I am glad that he is come … Commit him to our presence. Ibid., 109. Commit my Lord Archbishop of Bruges into our presence.
¶. ‘To consider, regard, account.’ Cent. Dict. A mistake, founded on a corrupt reading ‘commytted’ for ‘compted’ counted.
