Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

commentārĭus, ii, m. (sc. liber; both together, Gell. 13, 20, 17); commentā-rĭum, ii, n. (sc. volumen, Varr. L. L. 6, § 90 Müll.; Cic. Brut. 44, 164; cf. commentariolum) [commentor].

  1. I. Orig. a note-book, sketch-book, memorandum: diurni, a journal, Suet. Aug. 64.
  2. II. As the title of a book on any subject, but esp. historical, which is only sketched down or written without care (mostly in plur.), a sketch, a paper, memoirs, a commentary, etc., Cic. Fam. 5, 12, 10; Liv. 42, 6, 3; Quint. 2, 11, 7; 3, 8, 58; 3, 8, 67; 8, 2, 12; 10, 7, 30 al.; Tac. A. 6, 47; Suet. Tib. 61 et saep. Thus the two works of Cæsar upon the Gallic and civil wars are called Commentarii, commentaries, Cic. Brut. 75, 262; Hirt. and Asin. Pollio ap. Suet. Caes. 56.
    Of a single book: superiore commentario, i. e. in the Seventh Book, Hirt. B. G. 8, 30; cf. Gai Inst. 2, 23; 2, 145.
    1. B. Esp.
      1. 1. A commentary, exposition, brief explanation, annotation: commentarium in Vergilium, Gell. 2, 6, 1; cf. id. 1, 12; 1, 21.
      2. 2. In law, a brief, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 21, § 54.
      3. 3. The day-book of an accounting officer, Inscr. Grut. 592, 4; Inscr. Orell. 2904.
      4. 4. A collection of examples or citations, Quint. 1, 8, 19.
      5. 5. A pupil’s notes of a lecture or lesson, Quint. 3, 6, 59.

commento, āvi, 1, v. act., collat. form of 1. commentor, q. v. (cf. Prisc. p. 797 P.), to delineate, sketch; only trop.: ora, humorously, qs. to demonstrate on the face, for to cudgel or beat, Plaut. Men. 5, 7, 30 dub. (Brix, commetavi; cf. 2. commeto).
Hence,

      1. b. commentātus, a, um, pass.: ut sua et commentata et scripta … meminisset, Cic. Brut. 88, 301 (just before: secum commentatus in act. signif.): oratio, Q. Cic. ap. Cic. Fam. 16, 26, 1.

1. commentor, ātus sum, 1, v. freq. dep. [comminiscor].

  1. I. Prop., to consider thoroughly, meditate, think over, study, deliberate, weigh, prepare one’s self mentally, etc. (class.).
    1. A. Ingen.
      1. 1. Absol.: ut cito commentatus est, i. e. has made up a story, Plaut. Cas. 2, 3, 27: cum in hortos D. Bruti auguris commentandi causā convenissemus, deliberation, Cic. Lael. 2, 7: magi, qui congregantur in fano commentandi causā, id. Div. 1, 41, 90.
      2. 2. With acc.: te ipsum, qui multos annos nihil aliud commentaris, docebo quid sit humaniter vivere, Cic. Fam. 7, 1, 5: commentari aliquid et discere, id. Fin. 5, 15, 42: futuras mecum commentabar miserias, id. poët. Tusc. 3, 14, 29.
      3. 3. With interrog. clause: ut commentemur inter nos, quā ratione nobis traducendum sit hoc tempus, Cic. Fam. 4, 6, 3.
      4. 4. With de: multos mensis de populi Romani libertate, Cic. Phil. 3, 14, 36.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. Of the orator’s preparation for a speech (freq. and class.).
        1. a. Absol.: ad quem paratus venerat, cum in villā Metelli compluris dies commentatus esset, Cic. Fam. 12, 2, 1: itaque videas barbato rostro eum commentari, Varr. ap. Non. p. 455, 19: crebro digitorum labrorumque motu commentari, Quint. 11, 3, 160.
        2. b. With acc.: ut quae secum commentatus esset, ea sine scripto redderet eisdem verbis quibus cogitasset, Cic. Brut. 88, 301: quae mihi iste visus est ex aliā oratione declamare, quam in alium reum commentaretur, id. Rosc. Am. 29, 82.
      2. 2. Of writings, to prepare, produce as the result of study, write (rare): quorum alter commentatus est mimos, Cic. Phil. 6, 13: eo ipso anno cum commentaremur haec, Plin. 18, 25, 57, § 209: Cato de militari disciplinā commentans, id. praef. § 30.
        With acc., to discuss, write upon: neque commentari quae audierat fas erat, Gell. 1, 9, 4; cf.: carmina legendo commentando, que etiam ceteris nota facere, Suet. Gram. 2.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. Of the oratorical student’s practice in speaking (always with reference to the mental exertion and preparation; cf. Jan. ad Cic. Brut. 22, 87): commentabar declamitans, sic enim nunc loquuntur, saepe cum M. Pisone, Cic. Brut. 90, 310: exisse eo colore et eis oculis, ut egisse causam, non commentatum putares, id. ib. 22, 87 fin.: magister hic Samnitium summā jam senectute est et cottidie commentatur, id. de Or. 3, 23, 86 Sorof ad loc.
    2. B. Hence, as a modest expression for a speaker’s effort, to experiment in speaking, attempt to speak: satisne vobis videor pro meo jure in vestris auribus commentatus? Cic. Fin. 5, 25, 75 Orell. and Madv. ad loc.
    3. C. To imitate, adopt the language of another: Achilem Aristarchi mihi commentari lubet, Plaut. Poen. prol. 1.
    4. D. To meditate, purpose: si cogitaras id, quod illa tropaea plena dedecoris et risūs te commentatum esse declarant, Cic. Pis. 40, 97.