Dictionary
man•date
Pronunciation: (man'dāt), [key]
—n., v., -dat•ed, -dat•ing.
—
n.
1. a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative:
The president had a clear mandate to end the war.
2. a command from a superior court or official to a lower one.
3. an authoritative order or command:
a royal mandate.
4. (in the League of Nations) a commission given to a nation to administer the government and affairs of a former Turkish territory or German colony.
5. a mandated territory or colony.
6. Rom. Cath. Ch.an order issued by the pope, esp. one commanding the preferment of a certain person to a benefice.
7. Roman and Civ. Law.a contract by which one engages gratuitously to perform services for another.
8. (in modern civil law) any contract by which a person undertakes to perform services for another.
9. Roman Law.an order or decree by the emperor, esp. to governors of provinces.
—
v.t.
1. to authorize or decree (a particular action), as by the enactment of law.
2. to order or require; make mandatory:
to mandate sweeping changes in the election process.
3. to consign (a territory, colony, etc.) to the charge of a particular nation under a mandate.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
