commissariat
UK[ˌkɒmɪˈseəriət]US[ˌkɑːmɪˈseriət]
n
A government department responsible for supplying food and equipment to an army.
n
A department of the Soviet government before 1946, headed by a commissar.
Morpheme Breakdown
com
miss
ariat
com
with, together
miss
to send
ariat
Etymology
The word 'commissariat' has a journey rooted in delegation and collective duty. It originates from the Medieval Latin 'commissariatus', an office held by a 'commissarius' (commissioner), which itself derives from the Latin verb 'committere', meaning 'to entrust, bring together'. This verb is a fusion of 'com-' (together) and 'mittere' (to send), painting a picture of someone sent with a joint mandate or entrusted task. Over time, this concept of a delegated official evolved into the term for the administrative department supporting such officials, specifically the body entrusted with the vital logistical task of supplying armies. The term gained particular historical prominence in the 20th century as the name for key ministries in the Soviet government.
Analysis
Structure: com + miss + ariat
- com: Latin origin, a variant of 'cum' meaning 'with, together'. A prefix indicating association or joint action.
- miss: Latin origin, from 'mittere' meaning 'to send'. A root indicating the act of sending or dispatching.
- ariat: Latin/French origin, from '-arius' (agent suffix) + '-atus' (noun suffix forming offices or functions). A suffix denoting an office, institution, or collective body associated with a function.
Examples
The success of the campaign depended heavily on the efficiency of the commissariat.
He was appointed to a senior role in the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs.
Problems within the commissariat led to shortages of essential supplies at the front.