comandare

Comandare is an Italian transitive verb meaning to command, to give orders, or to operate and control something by issuing directives. It is used in contexts ranging from military leadership and management to technology, where a system or device is controlled by commands. The verb can also imply governing or directing a group or organization.

Etymology and related forms: comandare derives from Medieval Latin commandare, from Latin mandare “to entrust, to order,” with the prefix com- forming a new sense. It entered Italian as a regular first-conjugation (-are) verb. Its related nouns include comando (the command or order), comandante (commander), and sometimes comandi (plural of comando). In technical usage, it appears in phrases like comandare un computer or comandare un sistema.

Conjugation and usage notes: as a regular -are verb, comandare follows the standard pattern. Present indicative: io comando, tu comandi, lui comanda, noi comandiamo, voi comandate, loro comandano. Passato prossimo: ho comandato, hai comandato, ha comandato, abbiamo comandato, avete comandato, hanno comandato. Imperfetto: comandavo, comandavi, comandava, comandavamo, comandavate, comandavano. Futuro: comanderò, comanderai, comanderà, comanderemo, comanderete, comanderanno. Subjunctive present: che io comandi, che tu comandi, che lui comandi, che noi commandiamo, che voi comandiate, che loro comandino. In commands directing a person to do something, the structure often uses a person with a or di: comandi al pilota di cambiare rotta (order the pilot to change course) or comandare a qualcuno di fare qualcosa.

Noun use and related terms: il comando (the command or directive), il comandante (the commander), e in tech, la capacità di comandare un sistema.