v. [f. L. commūtā-re to change altogether, alter wholly, to exchange, interchange, f. com- together, altogether + mūtāre to change. On the analogy of words through Fr.: cf. transmute, COMMUTATE.]
1. trans. To give (one thing) in exchange for another, to change (for or into); to give and take (things) reciprocally, to exchange.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., iv. (1821), 268. May … exchange and commute … Moneys currant of England, into Moneys of this new Standerd of Ireland.
1635. Austin, Medit., 107. Hee commuted Estates. Hee tooke our Sinnes upon him, and gave us his Righteousnesse.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), II. 309. They shall find what is gold worth, and may be quickly commuted into it, great plenty of good grain.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnarium, Poet. Wks. 1721, II. 144. He and the Beasts seem Natures to commute, They act like Reason, and he like the Brute.
b. To put (two things) each in place of the other, substitute for each other, interchange.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, ix. 263. And then what can be more perfectly adapted to his aim, who desires to propagate his own eternal restlessness unto us, than thus to commute our tasks, exchange these pleasant and gainful ones, which God assigns us, for those uneasie and fruitless, we impose on our selves.
1832. Sir W. Hamilton, Disc. (1853), 107. To commute these terms in the translation of a Kantian Treatise, where subject and object … are accurately contradistinguished … is to convert light into darkness.
1870. Bowen, Logic, viii. 250. We cannot arbitrarily commute the Quantities.
c. To change for another, to alter.
1825. Southey, Paraguay, IV. 28. All thoughts and occupations to commute, To change their air, their water, and their food.
1858. J. Martineau, Studies Chr., 132. The law was … treated as in theory perpetual; not as ignominiously abrogated, but as legitimately commuted.
2. ‘To buy off or ransom one obligation by another’ (J.); to change an obligation, etc., into something lighter or more agreeable; to redeem or get off an obligation by a money payment. Const. for, into, rarely with.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter iii. 11. There is no … commuting the penance.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, III. xviii. (1840), 146. His holiness … absolved many of their vows from Palestine, and commuted them into a journey into France.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., I. iv. 153. When he had new dined, he discourses the question again, and thinks it unlawful to commute, and that he is bound to pay his vow in kinde. Ibid. (a. 1667), Wks. (1835), I. 853. God will not suffer us to commute a duty, because all is his due.
1694. R. L’Estrange, Fables, 476–7. Some there are that Commute Swearing for Whoring; as if Forbearance of the One, were a Dispensation for the Committing of T’other.
1723. Blackall, Wks., I. 206. We can’t commute one Duty for another, because they are both alike required.
1782. Han. More, Daniel, IV. 105. The false policy … which would commute our safety With God’s eternal honour.
1859. J. C. Hobhouse, Italy, II. 247. Little sums paid … by women who wish to … commute a penance with a small present.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xvii. 542. The grant of men was commuted for a contribution in money.
3. To change (a punishment, or a sentence) for (to, into) another of less severity, or a fine (cf. 2).
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xvi. 111. The late custome in some places of commuting whipping into money. Ibid. (a. 1661), Worthies (1840), I. x. 42. Others … had their deaths mercifully commuted by our magistrates into banishment.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xliv. § 1 (1872), V. 298. Forfeiture was sometimes commuted to a fine.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. III. viii. 469. The [capital] sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., x. (1862), 136. The … feudal practice of commuting all punishments whatever for fines.
b. with altered construction.
1681. Prideaux, Lett. (1875), 112. The Earl of Shaftesbury desires transportation, and would willingly commute banishment for his life.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., II. xi. 269. The pardon was refused, but a heavy fine commuted the offence.
4. To change (one kind of payment) into or for another; esp. to substitute a single payment for a number of payments, a fixed payment for an irregular or uncertain one, or a payment in money for one in kind (e.g., a tithe; cf. 2).
1795. Hull Advertiser, 7 March, 3/1. The licence to wear hair powder will be commuted for a tax on powder itself.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, II. iv. (1852), 188. The quantity of corn payable as rent … on account of tithe that has been commuted.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., I. 274. The legislature … might commute the average receipts of Irish landowners into a fixed rent charge and raise the tenants into proprietors.
1884. Ld. Selborne, in Law Rep., Chanc. Div. XXV. 689. She may commute into a capital sum … the benefit given to her … by way of annuity.
b. absol. spec. (U.S.) To purchase and use a commutation-ticket.
5. intr. To make up, compensate, compound for. b. Of things: To serve as a substitute for.
1645. Evelyn, Diary (1827), I. 337. Built … by Margaret of Verona, a courtezan … and by this … [she] hoped to commute for her sins.
1653. Walton, Angler, 156. Because I cut you short in that, I will commute for it, by telling you … a secret.
1663. J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 378. Perhaps the shame and misery of this life may commute for hell.
1782. W. F. Martyn, Geog. Mag., I. 40. The Greeks enjoin confessions and penances … for the latter they are allowed to commute.
Hence Commuted ppl. a., Commuting vbl. sb.
1659. Milton, Civ. Power, Wks. (1857), 309. A popish commuting of penaltie, corporal for spiritual.
1677. Otway, Cheats of Scapin, II. i. They’ll … tell all your Fornications, Bastardings, and Commutings in their Courts.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxviii. 671. Commuted payments for customary labour.
