commentary
nounUK /ˈkɒm.ən.t(ə.)ɹi/ · US /ˈkɑ.mənˌtɛ.ɹi/
Etymology From Middle French commentaire, from Latin commentārius, commentārium (“notebook”), compare French commentaire. See comment.
1
A series of comments or annotations; especially, a book of explanations or expositions on the whole or a part of some other work.
- This letter […] was published by him with a severe commentary.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:
- 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.1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
2
Plural normally 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
- scholia, secondary source
- Derived terms
- anti-commentary, audio commentary, commentarial, commentary box, commentary track, critical commentary, DVD commentary, metacommentary, political commentary, running commentary, social commentary, subcommentary, supercommentary