01 n. One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a superior power; a commissioner.
pl.
Commissaries ((#))
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1.
One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a superior power; a commissioner.“Great Destiny, the Commissary of God.” — Donne.
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2.
An officer of the bishop, who exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction in parts of the diocese at a distance from the residence of the bishop.(Eccl.)
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3.
An officer having charge of a special service; as, the commissary of musters.(Mil.) [U. S.]“Washington wrote to the President of Congress . . . urging the appointment of a commissary general, a quartermaster general, a commissary of musters, and a commissary of artillery.” — W. Irving
Phrases & compounds
Commissary general —
an officer in charge of some special department of army service
Commissary general of subsistence —
the head of the subsistence department, who has charge of the purchase and issue of provisions for the army.