commander

Etymology

From Middle English commaunder, comaunder, borrowed from Old French cumandeur, comandëor, from comander. See command.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /kəˈmændɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kəˈmɑːndə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

commander (plural commanders)

1. One who exercises control and direction of a military or naval organization.
2. A naval officer whose rank is above that of a lieutenant commander and below that of captain.
3. One who exercises control and direction over a group of persons.
4. A designation or rank in certain non-military organizations such as NASA and various police forces.
5. (obsolete) The chief officer of a commandry.
6. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc.
7. A rank within an honorary order: e.g. Commander of the Legion of Honour.

Etymology

From Old French comander, from Vulgar Latin *commandāre, from Latin commendāre, present active infinitive of commendō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɔ.mɑ̃.de/

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

commander

1. to order (tell someone to do something)
2. to order (ask for a product)

Further reading

• “commander” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).