▪ I. † recoˈmmand, v.1 Obs.
Forms: 4–5 recoma(u)nde, 4–6 recommaunde, 5 recoma(u)nd, recumaunde, etc.
[ad. F. recommander (12th c.), f. re- re- + commander to command or commend: on the relationship to recommend v.1, see the etym. notes to the vbs. command and commend.]
1. = recommend v.1 1.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 256 He lifte vp ys hond & blessed him þan & recomandedem to god almiȝte. 1490 Caxton How to Die 9, [I] recommaunde at thys tyme my spyryte in to thy handes. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon l. 169, I recommaunde thee to y⊇ kepinge of our lorde god. Ibid. lxii. 218 Therfore, syr, I recommaunde you to our lord god. |
b. = recommend v.1 1 b.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 1021 (1070) In ful humble wyse..He gan hym recommaunde unto her grace. 1390 Gower Conf. Prol. 29 *So ferforth I me recomande To him which al me may comande. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) ix. 33 Þai take lefe at þe mounkes and recomaundes þam specially to þer praiers. |
c. ellipt. To commend to the prayers of the people. rare—1.
| 1389 Eng. Gilds 31 Þe comoun belleman schal..recomandyn al þe brethere soules and systeres of þe gilde be name, and alle crystene soules. |
d. = recommend v. 1 c.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 33 To youre avis, Min holi fader,..I recomande myn astat. c 1400 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) Prol., I..am me auntred to make this litel symple booke, which I recommaunde and submytte to youre noble and wyse correccioun. c 1500 Melusine 191 To these two knightes Raymondyn & Melusyne had recommanded the estate of theire two sones. |
2. refl. and absol. To commend (oneself) to the kindly remembrance or regard of another. (Used in letters.)
| a 1413 Prince Henry Let. in Nat. MSS. I. 36, I recomande me to yowr good & gracieux lordship. 1425 Paston Lett. I. 21 Right worthy and worshepeful Sir, I recomaunde to yow preyeng yow to wite [etc.]. 1455 Rolls of Parlt. V. 280/2 We recommaunde us unto you. |
b. To speak of or mention (a person) to another, with a view to exciting kindly remembrance or regard. Freq. used in messages.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 1000 (1056) ‘This in special’, Quod Troilus, ‘that thou me recomaunde To hir that to the deeth me may comaunde’. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 163 Go litel bille..And of hool herte recomaund me,..To alle tho folk which lyst to have pité. 1470–85 Malory Arthur iv. viii, Accolon..said, recommaunde me vnto my lady Quene and telle her all shal be done that I haue promysed her. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon cxlvi. 547 When he saw that I wold depart thence to come into this countre, he humbly prayed me to recommaunde hym to you. |
| absol. a 1440 Sir Degrev. 877 Recumaunde, for God's pyne To my lady and thinne. |
▪ II. recoˈmmand, v.2
[re- 5 a.]
trans. To command again.
| 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xvi. xix, She commaunded her mynstrelles right anone to play..She me recommaunded..To daunce true mesures. 1622 Wither Mistr. Philar. Wks. (1633) 731 For as much as doubt you make To re-command me: of mine own accord Another Strain, I freely will afford. 1653 J. Hall Paradoxes 82 So can wee no more recommand them then call back yesterday. 1864 Reader 18 June, The great bravura duet..was, of course, recommanded by an irresistible encore. |