Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Commissioner \Com*mis"sion*er\, n.
   1. A person who has a commission or warrant to perform some
      office, or execute some business, for the government,
      corporation, or person employing him; as, a commissioner
      to take affidavits or to adjust claims.

            To another address which requested that a commission
            might be sent to examine into the state of things in
            Ireland, William returned a gracious answer, and
            desired the Commons to name the commissioners.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   2. An officer having charge of some department or bureau of
      the public service.

            Herbert was first commissioner of the Admiralty.
                                                  --Macaulay.

            The commissioner of patents, the commissioner of the
            land office, the commissioner of Indian affairs, are
            subordinates of the secretary of the interior.
                                                  --Bartlett.

   {Commissioner of deeds}, an officer having authority to take
      affidavits, depositions, acknowledgment of deeds, etc.,
      for use in the State by which he is appointed. [U. S.]

   {County commissioners}, certain administrative officers in
      some of the States, invested by local laws with various
      powers in reference to the roads, courthouses, financial
      matters, etc., of the county. [U. S.]



   3. A count; an earl or lord. [Obs.] --Shak.

   {County commissioners}. See {Commissioner}.

   {County corporate}, a city or town having the privilege to be
      a county by itself, and to be governed by its own sheriffs
      and other magistrates, irrespective of the officers of the
      county in which it is situated; as London, York, Bristol,
      etc. [Eng.] --Mozley & W.

   {County court}, a court whose jurisdiction is limited to
      county.

   {County palatine}, a county distinguished by particular
      privileges; -- so called a palatio (from the palace),
      because the owner had originally royal powers, or the same
      powers, in the administration of justice, as the king had
      in his palace; but these powers are now abridged. The
      counties palatine, in England, are Lancaster, Chester, and
      Durham.

   {County rates}, rates levied upon the county, and collected
      by the boards of guardians, for the purpose of defraying
      the expenses to which counties are liable, such as
      repairing bridges, jails, etc. [Eng.]

   {County seat}, a county town. [U.S.]

   {County sessions}, the general quarter sessions of the peace
      for each county, held four times a year. [Eng.]

   {County town}, the town of a county, where the county
      business is transacted; a shire town.