commissary
7
7.0
- noun
- /ˈkɒmɪˌsɛri/
- Jargon
:
comisariato
- The soldiers stopped by the commissary to buy supplies before heading out on their mission.
They are a grocery wholesaler and one of their main clients is the US military commissaries.
- They are a grocery wholesaler and one of their main clients is the US military commissaries.
Examples
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I only ever lived on a base with a commissary and exchange right there.
Blog text (7) -
At the military base, the commissary provides fresh food and essential supplies for all personnel.
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We do all our shopping at the army commissary.
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By the way, military commissaries are strange places.
Blog text (13) -
DH and I had to go to the Navy commissary today to get our turkey and other needed items.
Blog text (18) -
For those who can afford it, the commissary sells snacks, cigarettes, and toiletries.
Blog text (22) -
I'll need my military spouse ID card to shop at the commissary and PX as well.
Blog text (6) -
During the weekend, we often visit the commissary to stock up on groceries and other necessities.
Synonyms
A shop that sells food and basic supplies to soldiers in a camp
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
commissary = commiss + ary
The military sense comes from the same historical formation and is not transparently derived from a familiar modern English base, so learners cannot reliably infer 'base store' from the parts.
Etymology
Commissary comes from the Latin commissarius, meaning 'a person entrusted' or 'in charge'. In the military this became the place for supplies, so a military commissary is the store where soldiers buy food and goods.