command

command
    n 1: an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
         [syn: {command}, {bid}, {bidding}, {dictation}]
    2: a military unit or region under the control of a single
       officer
    3: the power or authority to command; "an admiral in command"
    4: availability for use; "the materials at the command of the
       potters grew"
    5: a position of highest authority; "the corporation has just
       undergone a change in command"
    6: great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity;
       "a good command of French" [syn: {command}, {control},
       {mastery}]
    7: (computer science) a line of code written as part of a
       computer program [syn: {instruction}, {command}, {statement},
       {program line}]
    v 1: be in command of; "The general commanded a huge army"
    2: make someone do something [syn: {command}, {require}]
    3: demand as one's due; "This speaker commands a high fee"; "The
       author commands a fair hearing from his readers"
    4: look down on; "The villa dominates the town" [syn:
       {dominate}, {command}, {overlook}, {overtop}]
    5: exercise authoritative control or power over; "control the
       budget"; "Command the military forces" [syn: {control},
       {command}]
    

Command \Com*mand"\ (?; 61), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Commanded}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Commanding}.] [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF.
   comander, F. commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to,
   to command. Cf. {Commend}, {Mandate}.]
   1. To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to
      direct; to bid; to charge.
      [1913 Webster]

            We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you
            never read that we are commanded to forgive our
            friends.                              --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

            Go to your mistress:
            Say, I command her come to me.        --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to
      have at one's disposal; to lead.
      [1913 Webster]

            Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries.
                                                  --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

            Such aid as I can spare you shall command. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or
      vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook.
      [1913 Webster]

            Bridges commanded by a fortified house. --Motley.
      [1913 Webster]

            Up to the eastern tower,
            Whose height commands as subject all the vale.
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            One side commands a view of the finest garden.
                                                  --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To have power or influence of the nature of authority
      over; to obtain as if by ordering; to receive as a due; to
      challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and
      affections of the people; the best goods command the best
      price.
      [1913 Webster]

            'Tis not in mortals to command success. --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. To direct to come; to bestow. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            I will command my blessing upon you.  --Lev. xxv.
                                                  21.

   Syn: To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule;
        overlook.
        [1913 Webster]
    

Command \Com*mand"\, v. i.
   1. To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to
      sway; to influence; to give an order or orders.
      [1913 Webster]

            And reigned, commanding in his monarchy. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            For the king had so commanded concerning [Haman].
                                                  --Esth. iii.
                                                  2.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To have a view, as from a superior position.
      [1913 Webster]

            Far and wide his eye commands.        --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Command \Com*mand"\, n.
   1. An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an
      injunction.
      [1913 Webster]

            Awaiting what command their mighty chief
            Had to impose.                        --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The possession or exercise of authority.
      [1913 Webster]

            Command and force may often create, but can never
            cure, an aversion.                    --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the
      forces under his command.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of
      position; scope of vision; survey.
      [1913 Webster]

            The steepy stand
            Which overlooks the vale with wide command.
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to
      have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has
      command of the bridge.
      [1913 Webster]

            He assumed an absolute command over his readers.
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post,
      or the whole territory under the authority or control of a
      particular officer.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Word of command} (Mil.), a word or phrase of definite and
      established meaning, used in directing the movements of
      soldiers; as, {aim}; {fire}; {shoulder arms}, etc.

   Syn: Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion;
        sovereignty; mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest.
        See {Direction}.
        [1913 Webster]
    

command

   <operating system> A character string which tells a program to
   perform a specific action.  Most commands take {arguments}
   which either modify the action performed or supply it with
   input.  Commands may be typed by the user or read from a file
   by a {command interpreter}.  It is also common to refer to
   menu items as commands.

   (1997-06-21)
    

COMMAND. This word has several meanings. 1. It signifies an order; an 
apprentice is bound to obey the lawful command of his master; a constable 
may command rioters to keep the peace. 
     2. He who commands another to do an unlawful act, is accessary to it. 3 
Inst. 51, 57; 2 Inst. 182; 1 Hayw. 
     3. Command is also equivalent to deputation or voluntary substitution; 
as, when a master employs one to do a thing, he is said to have Commanded 
him to do it; and he is responsible accordingly. Story Ag. Sec. 454, note. 
    

417 Moby Thesaurus words for "command":
      ALGOL, COBOL, FORTRAN, ability, acme, address, adeptness,
      administer, administrate, administration, adroitness, airmanship,
      alphabetic data, alphanumeric code, angular data, animus, aplomb,
      appetence, appetency, appetite, apprehension, artfulness,
      artisanship, artistry, ask, assembler, assurance, attract,
      authority, authorization, be enfeoffed of, be expert in,
      be learned in, be master, be master of, be possessed of,
      be responsible for, be seized of, be up on, be well-informed,
      be-all and end-all, behest, bestraddle, bestride, bid, bidding,
      binary digit, binary scale, binary system, bit, blue ribbon, boast,
      bravura, brilliance, bug, byte, call on, call the signals,
      call upon, canon, capability, capacity, captain, carry on, chair,
      championship, charge, choice, choose, choose to, claim,
      clairvoyance, claws, clear, cleverness, clutches, coerce,
      command pulses, commands, commission, compel, competence, compiler,
      comprehension, computer code, computer language, computer program,
      conation, conatus, conception, conceptualization, conduct,
      confidence, constrain, control, control signals,
      controlled quantity, coordination, correcting signals, craft,
      craftsmanship, cunning, data, decide, decision, declare, decree,
      deftness, demand, desire, determination, determine, devoir,
      dexterity, dexterousness, dextrousness, dictate, diplomacy, direct,
      direction, directive, directorship, discipline, discretion,
      disposition, dominate, domination, dominion, draw on, duty, earn,
      effectiveness, efficiency, empery, empire, engineer, enjoin, enjoy,
      error, error signals, exact, expertise, expertism, expertness,
      eyereach, eyeshot, eyesight, facility, fancy, feedback pulses,
      feedback signals, field of view, field of vision, fill, film data,
      finesse, first place, first prize, force, foreknowledge,
      free choice, free will, give an order, give the word, govern,
      governance, government, grace, grasp, grip, gripe, guidance, hand,
      handiness, handle, handling, hands, have, have and hold,
      have down pat, have in hand, have it taped, have tenure of, head,
      head up, headship, hegemony, height, helm, hexadecimal system,
      highest, hold, horizon, horsemanship, husbandry, ideation,
      imperium, inclination, influence, information, ingeniousness,
      ingenuity, injunction, input data, input quantity, instruct,
      instruction, instructions, intellection, intelligence, intention,
      iron hand, issue a command, issue a writ, jurisdiction, ken,
      kingship, knack, know backwards, know by heart, know damn well,
      know inside out, know the ropes, know the score, know well,
      know-how, lad, law, lead, lead on, leadership, leading, liking,
      limit of vision, line of sight, look down upon, lordship, lust,
      machine language, make the rules, manage, management, managery,
      managing, mandate, maneuver, manipulate, manipulation,
      marksmanship, master, mastermind, mastership, mastery, maximum,
      mental grasp, message, might, mind, most, multiple messages,
      naked eye, ne plus ultra, new high, noise, numeric data, objective,
      obligation, oblige, occupy, octal system, officer, ordain, order,
      order about, ordering, ordinance, oscillograph data, outlook,
      outlook over, output data, output quantity, outtop, overarch,
      overlook, overshadow, oversight, overtop, palms, paramountcy,
      passion, perspective, pilotage, play, pleasure, poise, polar data,
      possess, power, practical ability, precept, precognition,
      prehension, prescribe, prescript, prescription, preside over,
      presidency, primacy, proclaim, proficiency, promulgate, pronounce,
      prospect, prowess, pull the strings, punch-card data, quarterback,
      quickness, raj, random data, range, readiness, record,
      rectangular data, reference quantity, regnancy, regulate,
      regulation, reign, reins of government, request, require,
      resolution, resolve, resource, resourcefulness, responsibility,
      rise above, rule, ruly English, run, running, savoir-faire, savvy,
      say, say the word, scan, scope, scope of vision, seamanship,
      see fit, sexual desire, sight, sightliness, signals,
      single messages, skill, skillfulness, skipper, sovereignty, squat,
      squat on, stand over, statute, steerage, steering, stewardship,
      strings, style, summon, supervise, supremacy, surmount, survey,
      sway, tact, tactfulness, take command, take the lead, talons,
      teaching, technical brilliance, technical mastery, technical skill,
      technique, tell, the conn, the helm, the wheel, think fit,
      think good, think proper, timing, top, top spot, tower above,
      tower over, understanding, unorganized data, usucapt, velleity,
      view, virtuosity, visible-speech data, vista, volition, warn,
      wield authority, will, will power, wisdom, wish, wit, wizardry,
      word, workmanship, zenith