commit

verb (committed; committing) Etymology: Middle English committen, from Anglo-French committer, from Latin committere to connect, entrust, from com- + mittere to send Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. 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 report 2. 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 verb 1. obsolete to perpetrate an offense 2. to obligate or pledge oneself • committable 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

>.