[f. COMMIT + -MENT. Commettement is found in Anglo-Fr. statutes of Henry V. (Godef.).] The action of committing, in various senses; committal.
1. The action of entrusting, giving in charge, or commending.
1677. R. Cary, Chronol., II. II. II. iii. 211. To forbear the Commitment of his Fathers Government unto him.
1815. Chalmers, Lett., in Life (1851), II. 12. A daily … commitment of ourselves to those promises which are in Christ Jesus.
1853. Tait’s Mag., XX. 516. The irrevocable commitment of the public welfare … to the numerical majority.
b. The committing of the care and custody of idiots to a responsible person. (Cf. COMMITTEE 3.)
1885. Law Rep., 14 Q. B. Div. 896. The Lords Justices … entrusted … with the care and commitment of the custody of idiots and lunatics.
2. The action of officially consigning to custody or confinement, or the state of being so consigned; imprisonment, confinement, esp. previous to trial.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 25. His warrant to the Keeper of Newgate for the comittment of Roberte Moore.
1645. Marq. Worcester, in Dircks, Life, viii. (1865), 127. Since my commitment to the Castle of Dublin.
1688. Col. Rec. Penn., I. 241. No Order to keepe him under Commitment.
1765–9. Blackstone, Comm., IV. xxii. (R). In this dubious interval between the commitment and trial, a prisoner ought to be used with the utmost humanity.
1824. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), II. 40/1. This … makes every simple commitment more terrible than a conviction.
1851. Dixon, W. Penn, viii. (1872), 65. Warrants of commitment to the Tower.
1883. 19th Cent., May, 904. Juvenile commitments for crime have largely diminished.
b. A warrant or order of committal to prison.
1755. Mem. Capt. P. Drake, I. xv. 142. We … chose Newgate, and a Commitment was ordered to be drawn accordingly.
1817. Ld. Folkestone, in Parl. Deb., 1365. The name or names of the persons who signed the commitment.
1836. Marryat, Japhet, lix. My commitment to the county gaol was made out.
3. Legislation. The action of referring or entrusting (a bill, etc.) to a committee.
1640–1. Ld. Digby, Parl Sp., 9 Feb., 8. When this Petition was first presented, there might bee more reason for the Commitment of it.
1658–9. Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 190. The proper question before you is the commitment of this Bill. Now how shall you commit it?
a. 1797. H. Walpole, Mem. Geo. III. (1845), II. vi. 128. Mr. Conway … advised deferring the motion till the day of the commitment.
1800. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), III. 448. They have got their judiciary bill forwarded to commitment.
1870. Stanhope, Hist. Eng., II. 102. Upon the commitment got a sufficient party to add such a Clause.
† 4. The action of committing or perpetrating (an offense); = COMMISSION 12. Obs.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xx. (1632), 972. The commitment of that parricide.
1650. W. Hartley, Good News to all People, 19. Upon the Commitment of sin.
1651. W. Durham, Maranatha, 18. The outward acts and grosser commitments of sin.
1738. Common Sense (1739), II. 71. To prevent the frequent Commitment of new Crimes.
† 5. The action of engaging in or commencing (hostilities); hostile engagement. Obs. rare.
1645. Milton, Tetrach., Wks. 1738, I. 234. To be made the commitment and close fight of enmity and hate.
1793. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), IV. 75. Prohibiting the commitment of hostilities.
6. The committing of oneself, or being committed (to a particular course of conduct, etc.).
1793. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), IV. 62. Urge one [an answer] as much as you can without commitment.
1871. Daily News, 9 Feb. An unreserved and open commitment to measures of Reform.
1880. E. Myers, in Hellenica, 5. Without commitment to any especial political opinions.
b. An engagement.
1864. Disraeli, in Daily Tel., 22 Sept. The commitments of the country are too great … we have entered into engagements which it is difficult to fulfil.
1882. Pall Mall G., 13 July, 5/2. Money is of course easy still, as there are no fresh commitments.
