commander

Everyday

1. A person who is in charge of a group of soldiers, a ship, an aircraft, a mission or a police operation. tree →
2. (title) A rank in some navies (between lieutenant commander and captain) and in the London police. tree →
3. Anyone who leads or gives orders, like the commander of a space mission. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons commanders lead armies and fleets (for example Admiral Nelson at Trafalgar). In science and space topics, the commander leads a space mission: Neil Armstrong was the commander of Apollo 11. In games and stories children play «commander» and give orders. Phrases: «commander in chief», «army commander», «mission commander», «Commander Smith».

Examples

• The commander told the soldiers to wait for the signal. tree →
• Neil Armstrong was the commander of Apollo 11. tree →
• The commander of the ship stayed on deck during the storm. tree →
• In the US, the President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. tree →
• My brother wants to be a space station commander one day. tree →
• The police commander spoke to the news reporters. tree →
• In our game, Sam was the commander and gave us all secret missions. tree →
• The Roman commanders never undertook any naval expedition without propitiating Neptune by a sacrifice. tree →

Note

Spelled with double m. When used as a title before a name it takes a capital: Commander Hadfield. «Command» is the verb (to give orders) and also a noun (an order). «Commander in chief» (or commander-in-chief) is the highest commander of all forces.

In Jewish tradition

A leader or chief, such as a military officer or royal official; Rehum was a Persian official over the region.

Interpretation. Isaiah 55 says God made David a commander to the peoples, and the tradition links this to David's line and to the future Messianic king.

Examples

• Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a prince and commander to the peoples. (Prophets ISA.55.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort — (Writings EZR.4.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• then wrote Rehum the commander, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinites, and the Apharesattechites, the Tarpelites, the Apharesites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehites, the Elamites, (Writings EZR.4.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelled with double m. When used as a title before a name it takes a capital: Commander Hadfield. «Command» is the verb (to give orders) and also a noun (an order). «Commander in chief» (or commander-in-chief) is the highest commander of all forces.