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An officer in the Spartan army commanding fifty men. Mitford.

to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate; to put up with. What things God doth neither command nor forbid . . . he permitteth with approbation either to be done or left undone. Hooker.

In Athens, originally, the military commanderin-chief; but, afterward, a civil magistrate who had jurisdiction in respect of strangers and sojourners. In other Grecian cities, a high military and civil officer.

or larboard side of a ship; -- said of the helm, and used chiefly in the imperative, as a command; as, port your helm.

The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy; ownership, whether rightful or wrongful.

ared, or was "posted," in the seniority list of the British navy, as distinguished from a commander whose name was not so posted. The term was also used in the United States navy; but no such commission as post-captain was ever recognized in either service, and the term has fallen into disuse.

e employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government. Power is no blessing in itself but when it is employed to protect the innocent. Swift.

A writ commanding something to be done, or requiring a reason for neglecting it.

Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule. For precept must be upon precept. Isa. xxviii. 10. No arts are without their precepts. Dryden.

One who gives commands, or makes rules; specifically, the master or principal of a school; a teacher; an instructor.

nights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order in London. See Commandery, n., 2.

Commanding; directing.

A Roman officer who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.; as, the prefect of the aqueducts; the prefect of a camp, of a fleet, of the city guard, of provisions; the pretorian prefect, who was commander of the troops guarding the emperor's person.

resent a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of another. Pesent arms (Mil.), the command in response to which the gun is carried perpendicularly in front of the center of the body, and held there with the left hand grasping it at the lower band, and the right hand grasping the small of the stock, in token of r…

isused the king's press. Shak. Press gang, or Pressgang, a detachment of seamen under the command of an officer empowered to force men into the naval service. See Impress gang, under Impress. -- Press money, money paid to a man enlisted into public service. See Prest money, under Prest, a.

uresome; audacious; rash; taking liberties unduly; arrogant; insolent; as, a presumptuous commander; presumptuous conduct. A class of presumptuous men, whom age has not made cautious, nor adversity wise. Buckminster.

To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [Obs.] Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. Pope.

The commander of a privateer. Kidd soon threw off the character of a privateer and became a pirate. Macaulay.

ly boxing, in public for a reward or wager. -- Prize master, an officer put in charge or command of a captured vessel. -- Prize medal, a medal given as a prize. -- Prize money, a dividend from the proceeds of a captured vessel, etc., paid to the captors. -- Prize ring, the ring or inclosure for a prize fight; the s…

ng out of chancery in cases where the judges of subordinate courts delay giving judgment, commanding them to proceed to judgment.