Main Entry:

com·mit

Pronunciation:

\kə-ˈmit\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

com·mit·ted; com·mit·ting

Etymology:

Middle English committen, from Anglo-French committer, from Latin committere to connect, entrust, from com- + mittere to send

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1 a: to put into charge or trust : entrust b: to place in a prison or mental institution c: to consign or record for preservation <commit it to memory> d: to put into a place for disposal or safekeeping e: to refer (as a legislative bill) to a committee for consideration and report2: to carry into action deliberately : perpetrate <commit a crime>3 a: obligate, bind <a contract committing the company to complete the project on time> b: to pledge or assign to some particular course or use <commit all troops to the attack> c: to reveal the views of <refused to commit himself on the issue>intransitive verb1obsolete : to perpetrate an offense2: to obligate or pledge oneself

— com·mit·ta·ble \-ˈmi-tə-bəl\ adjective

synonyms commit, entrust, confide, consign, relegate mean to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose. commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody <committed the felon to prison>. entrust implies committing with trust and confidence <the president is entrusted with broad powers>. confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance <confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney>. consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality <consigned the damaging notes to the fire>. relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of <relegated to an obscure position in the company>.