committee

committee
\ \ [15] Committee was formed from the verb commit by adding the suffix -ee.
\ \ Following the pattern of all such formations, it originally meant ‘person to whom something is committed’; it was not until the 17th century that the sense ‘body of people delegated to perform a particular function’ developed.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • committee — com‧mit‧tee [kəˈmɪti] noun [countable] a group of people within an organization such as a government, company, or political party who have been chosen or elected in order to do a particular job, take decisions etc: • They will discuss the issue… …   Financial and business terms

  • committee — com·mit·tee n 1: a person to whom a charge (as an incompetent) is committed compare conservator, curator, guardian, tutor …   Law dictionary

  • committee — can take a singular or plural construction, depending on the sense. If the emphasis is on collectivity or unity, it is treated as singular; if the emphasis is on the individuality of its members, it is treated as plural. Examples: • The committee …   Modern English usage

  • Committee — Com*mit tee, n. [Cf. OF. comit[ e] company, and LL. comitatus jurisdiction or territory of a count, county, assize, army. The word was apparently influenced by the verb commit, but not directly formed from it. Cf. {County}.] One or more persons… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • committee — The code directs or allows committees to appear and act on behalf of various classes of creditors. Generally, there is a committee of unsecured creditors in a Chapter 11 case. There also may be committees of equity security holders (shareholders) …   Glossary of Bankruptcy

  • committee — ► NOUN 1) (treated as sing. or pl. ) a group of people appointed for a specific function by a larger group. 2) Law, Brit. a person to whom another person or another person s property is entrusted. ● Committee of the whole House Cf. ↑Committee of… …   English terms dictionary

  • committee — [kə mit′ē] n. [ME committe, a representative < Anglo Fr commité, pp. (for Fr commis) of commettre, to commit < L committere: see COMMIT] 1. a group of people chosen, as from the members of a legislature or club, to consider, investigate,… …   English World dictionary

  • Committee — Com mit*tee , n. [From {Commit}, v. t.] (Law) One to whom the charge of the person or estate of another, as of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Committee — (engl., spr. Kammitti), so v. w. Comité …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • committee — 1620s, from COMMIT (Cf. commit) + EE (Cf. ee), or else a revival of Anglo Fr. commite, pp. of commettre to commit, from L. committere (see COMMIT (Cf. commit)). Originally person to whom something is committed (late 15c.); the 17c. sense was a… …   Etymology dictionary

  • committee — [n] group working on project board, bureau, cabinet, chamber, commission, consultants, convocation, council, investigators, jury, panel, representatives, task force, trustees; concept 381 …   New thesaurus

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