commitment (komitment)

[ What has the pris'ner done? Say; what's the cause Of his commitment? Quarles, Emblems, iii. 10. In this dubious interval, between the commitment and trial, a prisoner ought to be used with the utmost humanity. Black stone, Com., iv. 22. (c) In legislation, the act of referring or intrusting to a committee for consideration: as, the commitment of a petition or a bill for consideration and report. The Parliament... which thought this petition worthy not only of receiving, but of voting to a commitment. Milton , On Def. of Humb. Remonst. (d) The act of pledging or engaging one's self: as, the writer's commitment to the theory of spontaneous generation. [In this sense committal is more commonly used.] (e) The act of perpetrating; commi ion. Clarendon. 2. A written order of a court directing that some one be confined in prison: formerly more often termed a mittimus.