Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Mandate \Man"date\, n. [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}.]
   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. (Canon Law) 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. (Scots Law) A contract by which one employs another to
      manage any business for him. By the Roman law, it must
      have been gratuitous. --Erskine.

Source : WordNet®

mandate
     n 1: a document giving an official instruction or command [syn: {authorization},
           {authorisation}]
     2: a territory surrendered by Turkey or Germany after World War
        I and put under the tutelage of some other European power
        until they ar able to stand by themselves [syn: {mandatory}]
     3: the commission that is given to a government and its
        policies through an electoral victory
     v 1: assign under a mandate; "mandate a colony"
     2: make mandatory; "the new director of the schoolbaord
        mandated regular tests"
     3: assign authority to