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A space over, or in front of , a boiler furnace where the gases from the fire become more thoroughly mixed and burnt. (b) The clearance space in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine where the charge is compressed and ignited.

nation or the rights and privileges acquired by its citizens in their own land. By some authorities private international law rests on this comity, but the better opinion is that it is part of the common law of the land, and hence is obligatory as law.

To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge. We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends. Bacon. Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me. Shak.

Mandatory; as, commandatory authority. [Obs.]

A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it. A leader and commander to the people. Is. lv. 4.

Exercising authority; actually in command; as, a commanding officer.

An order or injunction given by authority; a command; a charge; a precept; a mandate. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another. John xiii. 34.

A woman invested with authority to command. Hooker.

make remarks, observations, or criticism; especially, to write notes on the works of an author, with a view to illustrate his meaning, or to explain particular passages; to write annotations; -- often followed by on or upon. A physician to comment on your malady. Shak. Critics . . . proceed to comment on him. Dryden. I…

A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties. Let him see our commission. Shak.

ing, a commission; conferred by a commission or warrant. [R.] Delegate or commissionary authority. Bp. Hall.

es of the secretary of the interior. Bartlett. Commissioner of deeds, an officer having authority to take affidavits, depositions, acknowledgment of deeds, etc., for use in the State by which he is appointed. [U. S.] -- County commissioners, certain administrative officers in some of the States, invested by local laws…

he charge of the person or estate of another, as of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian.

disturb; to stir up. [R.] Society being more or less commoted and made uncomfortable. Hawthorne.

and exeditious ways. Woodward. Three things be required in the oration of a man having authority -- that it be compendious, sententious, and delectable. Sir T. Elyot.

Right or authority; legal power or capacity to take cognizance of a cause; as, the competence of a judge or court. Kent.

- followed by to. [Rare, except in legal usage.] That is the privillege of the infinite Author of things, . . . but is not competent to any finite being. Locke.

One who composes; an author. Specifically, an author of a piece of music. If the thoughts of such authors have nothing in them, they at least . . . show an honest industry and a good intention in the composer. Addison. His [Mozart's] most brilliant and solid glory is founded upon his talents as a composer. Moore (Encyc…

land; esp., a composition of various substances (as muck, mold, lime, and stable manure) thoroughly mingled and decomposed, as in a compost heap. And do not spread the compost on the weeds To make them ranker. Shak.

Obligatory; enjoined by authority; necessary; due to complusion. This contribution therestening fall infinitely short of their hopes, they soon made it compulsory. Burke.