commentation
(kɒmənˈteɪʃən)
[In form ad. L. commentātiōn-em meditation, study, enthymeme, also, a study, treatise, dissertation, n. of action f. commentāri to meditate, reflect on, study, compose, discuss, write upon; the modern sense goes with that of comment, commentary, etc.]
† 1. a. An expository note, a comment, a gloss. b. An expository treatise, a commentary. Obs.
| 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 512/1 Let vs not take this commentation and charge that is conteined here..but let vs heare God speake. 1645 M. Casaubon Orig. Temp. Evils 19 Learned Mr. Vossius..in his elaborate Commentations De Origine Idolatriæ. 1712 Spotswood in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. I. 191 Some good commentations upon the Scriptures. |
† 2. Invention, devising; sometimes, with mixture of 1, comment which is a mere invention or concoction. Obs. Cf. comment v. 1.
| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 127 Magick and astrologie, and mens fanaticall opinions and commentations thereupon. a 1734 North Exam. i. iv. §5 Meer Inventions and Commentations of Faction. ― Lives (1826) II. 385 By subtile commentations, and wild inferences. |
† 3. Meditation, excogitation. Obs. rare—1.
| a 1670 Hacket Abp. Williams ii. 207 His Papers of long study, and much commentation. |
4. The making of comments; commenting.
| 1833 New Monthly Mag. XXXVII. 89 The sort of commentation that has been made on the election. 1857 Whewell Hist. Induct. Sc. I. 205 These causes..make criticism and commentation flourish. 1875 G. Dawson Shaks. & other Lect. (1888) 117 Much of the commentation upon Shakespeare. |