1. The action of entrusting, giving in charge, consigning, or commending.
1830. Fraser’s Mag., I. 243. A careful committal to the memory of the … ladies alphabeted in Clayton’s Court Guide.
1858. Trench, Parables, 197. The solemn committal … of such a charge to the Priests and Levites.
attrib. 1886. Pall Mall G., 6 Oct., 9/1. The body was interred in the ante-chapel, where the committal prayers were said by the Vice-Master.
b. Committal to writing.
1841. G. S. Faber, Provinc. Lett. (1844), II. 319. The actual committal of Liturgies to writing.
2. The action of committing to confinement.
1823. New Monthly Mag., IX. 433/2. Want is ever the parent of crime and rebellion. The committals to prison in Ireland in 1806 were but 1996,… and in 1823 they are reported to amount to 12,284!
1860. Froude, Hist. Eng., V. 61. His arbitrary committal had no pretext of law for it.
1881. Daily News, 13 April, 5/4. The committal, trial, and conviction of his wife.
b. A warrant or order for imprisonment.
1760. Life & Adv. Cat, 41. To demand the committal in writing.
3. Legislation. The action of referring or entrusting (a bill, etc.) to a committee.
1818. Parl. Deb., 1415. Between the second reading of the bill and its committal in the house.
1825. Ann. Reg., 51. Lord Lansdown moved the committal of the bill.
4. The action of doing or perpetrating (an offense, etc.); = COMMISSION 12.
1625. Ussher, Answ. Jesuit, 249. The committall of those smaller faultes.
1728. Bp. P. Brown, Proc. Understanding, II. vi. (1737), 227. An … internal Sensation of Remorse on the Committal of wicked Actions.
1856. Sat. Rev., II. 289/2. The Bishop of London’s … committal of a flagrant … breach of the Church’s law.
1886. R. Davey, in Antiquary, March, 122/1. The committal of that awful crime.
† 5. Engaging in or commencing (hostilities). Obs.
1771. Hist. Europe, in Ann. Reg., 11/1. The actual committal of hostilities.
6. Committing or compromising oneself: see COMMIT 9.
1835. Tait’s Mag., II. 378. ‘Do not commit yourself.’ And what does this apprehension of committal imply?
