online medical dictionary | definition of mandate

1. An official or authoritative command; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept. "This dream all-powerful Juno; I bear Her mighty mandates, and her words you hear." (Dryden)

2. A rescript of the pope, commanding an ordinary collator to put the person therein named in possession of the first vacant benefice in his collation.

3. A contract by which one employs another to manage any business for him. By the Roman law, it must have been gratuitous.

Origin: L. Mandatum, fr. Mandare to commit to one's charge, order, orig, to put into one's hand; manus hand + dare to give: cf. F. Mandat. See Manual, Date a time, and cf. Commend, Maundy Thursday.

(01 Mar 1998)