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directors were heartily concurring; in most of them, they were encouraging, and sometimes commanding; in all they were conniving. Burke. The government thought it expedient, occasionally, to connive at the violation of this rule. Macaulay.

A writ commanding the sheriff to distrain a person by his goods or chattels, to compel a compliance with something required of him.

A judicial process commanding a person to appear in court and bring with him some piece of evidence or other thing to be produced to the court.

A judicial writ that lies for one who has recovered in debt or damages, commanding the sheriff that he cause to be made of the goods, chattels, or real estate of the defendant, the sum claimed. Blackstone. Cowell.

The vessel which carries the commanding officer of a fleet or squadron and flies his distinctive flag or pennant.

t, generally clinkerbuilt, and designed to be fast; a boat appropriated to the use of the commanding officer; as, the captain's gig.

Superior; admirable; commanding; -- applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.

Commanding. [R.] Baxter.

ressive of command; containing positive command; authoritatively or absolutely directive; commanding; authoritative; as, imperative orders. The suit of kings are imperative. Bp. Hall.

Commanding; imperative; authoritative.

Commanding; ascendant; imperial; lordly; majestic. [Obs.] "A vast and imperious mind." Tilloison. Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, Imperious. Shak.

Adapted to impress forcibly; impressive; commanding; as, an imposing air; an imposing spectacle. "Large and imposing edifices." Bp. Hobart.

The act of enjoining; the act of directing, commanding, or prohibiting.

sending out, or causing to go forth; delivery; issuance; as, the issue of an order from a commanding officer; the issue of money from a treasury.

o a master or magistrate, or one in authority; having the manner of a magister; official; commanding; authoritative. Hence: Overbearing; dictatorial; dogmatic. When magisterial duties from his home Her father called. Glover. We are not magisterial in opinions, nor, dictator-like, obtrude our notions on any man. Sir T.…

A writ directed to the sheriff, commanding him to take sureties, called mainpernors, for the prisoner's appearance, and to let him go at large. This writ is now obsolete. Wharton.

irected to some inferior tribunal, or to some corporation or person exercising authority, commanding the performance of some specified duty.

A rescript of the pope, commanding an ordinary collator to put the person therein named in possession of the first vacant benefice in his collation.

The quality or state of being noble; superiority of mind or of character; commanding excellence; eminence. Though she hated Amphialus, yet the nobility of her courage prevailed over it. Sir P. Sidney. They thought it great their sovereign to control, And named their pride nobility of soul. Dryden.

chief executive or supreme authority of the State; but by the Secretary of War or by the commanding officer of the regiment.