Commendacioun

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for the act of praising someone or something, or an expression of approval and esteem
2. Old-fashioned word meaning a statement of praise, admiration, or recommendation given to a person or thing
3. A Middle English noun for commendation, meaning words or gestures that express high regard and favorable judgment

Etymology: Latin "commendare" was built from "com-", meaning "together", and "mandare", "to entrust", which itself came from "manus" (hand) and "dare" (give). To commend something was literally to hand it over into another's keeping. Roman writers used the verb for placing a person or property in someone else's care, and recommending someone to a patron followed naturally, since a good word was something you offered along with the handover. Old French carried the idea forward as "commendacion", and Middle English took up the noun in the form seen here, with its -cioun ending. Praise grew out of recommendation: first you vouched for someone's worth to a third party, and then you spoke well of them directly. In modern English praise is the main sense, while the older idea of entrusting survives mostly in the verb "commend", as in "I commend you to God's care."

Synonyms: commendation, praise, approval, acclaim, recommendation

Antonyms: condemnation, censure, reproach, blame, disapproval