commission

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
commission/kəˈmɪʃn/

▶noun

• 1 an instruction or command.

  ■ a formal request to design or create a building or work of art.

  ■ archaic the authority to perform a task.

• 2 a group given official authority to control or investigate something.

• 3 a sum paid to an agent in a commercial transaction.

• 4 a warrant conferring the rank of military officer.

• 5 the action of committing a crime or offence.

▶verb

• 1 order or authorize the production of.

  ■ order or authorize (someone) to do or produce something.

• 2 bring into working order.

• 3 appoint to the rank of military officer.

– phrases
in (or out of) commission in (or not in) use or working order.

– origin ME: via OFr. from L. commissio(n-), from committere (see commit).