commissary
UK[ˈkɒmɪsəri]US[ˈkɑːmɪseri]
n
A store that sells food and supplies, especially within a military base, prison, or large organization.
n
A deputy or delegate, especially one representing a bishop.
Morpheme Breakdown
com
miss
ary
com
together
miss
send
ary
place/person
Etymology
The word 'commissary' originates from the Medieval Latin commissarius, meaning a person delegated with a task or charge. This derives from the Latin verb committere, which combines com- ("together") and mittere ("to send"), literally conveying the idea of "to send together" or "to entrust." Initially, it referred to a person to whom a duty was entrusted, such as a deputy or representative. Over time, the meaning specialized to denote a person responsible for supplying provisions (a delegated duty), and subsequently to the place, such as a store, where such supplies are kept and sold.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + miss (send) + ary (place/person)
com: Latin prefix meaning "together, with".
miss: From Latin missus, the past participle of mittere meaning "to send".
ary: Latin suffix -arius denoting a person or thing connected with a function or place.
Examples
The soldiers bought snacks and toiletries at the base commissary.
The film crew's meals were provided by the production commissary.
He acted as the bishop's commissary in the distant diocese.