Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Mandate
Man′date
,Noun.
[L.
mandatum
, fr. mandare
to commit to one’s charge, order, orig., to put into one's hand; manus
hand + dare
to give: cf. F. mandat
. See Manual
, Date
a time, and cf. Commend
, Maundy Thursday
.] 1.
An official or authoritative command, order, or authorization from a superior official to a subordinate; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept.
This dream all-powerful Juno; I bear
Her mighty
Her mighty
mandates
, and her words you hear. Dryden.
4.
(Canon Law)
A rescript of the pope, commanding an ordinary collator to put the person therein named in possession of the first vacant benefice in his collation.
5.
(Scots Law)
A contract by which one employs another to manage any business for him. By the Roman law, it must have been gratuitous.
Erskine.