commentary

English

Etymology

From Middle French commentaire, from Latin commentārius, commentārium (“notebook”), compare French commentaire. See comment.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɒm.ən.t(ə.)ɹi/
    • Audio (Southern England); [ˈkʰɔməntʃɹɪi̯]:(file)
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɑ.mənˌtɛ.ɹi/

Noun

commentary (countable and uncountable, plural commentaries)

  1. A series of comments or annotations; especially, a book of explanations or expositions on the whole or a part of some other work.
    • 1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:
      This letter […] was published by him with a severe commentary.
    • 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
      Under each coin was a circular ticket with written particulars of the specimen accompanying it. For some time Carrados took little interest in these commentaries, but presently Hosier noticed that his guest was submitting many of them to a close but quiet scrutiny.
  2. (usually in the plural) A brief account of transactions or events written hastily, as if for a memorandum.
    Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War
  3. An oral relation of an event, especially broadcast by television or radio, as it occurs.
    We listened to the football commentary while watching the match.

Synonyms

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Further reading

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