I.a commendation, recommending (in good prose, and very freq.).
I. In abstr., as an act: “amicorum,” Cic. Fam. 1, 3, 1; 12, 26 ter; id. Fin. 5, 15, 41; Sall. C. 35, 1; Quint. 9, 2, 59; cf. id. 5, 10, 41; 4, 3, 17; Suet. Caes. 75; id. Aug. 46 al.—In plur., Cic. Fam. 13, 32, 1.—With gen. obj.: “ad ceteros contempti hominis,” Cic. Att. 8, 4, 1: “sui,” id. Or. 36, 124 (opp. offensio adversarii); Dig. 1, 16, 4, § 3: “commendationes morientium,” Cic. Fin. 3, 20, 65; cf. commendo, I. B. 2.—
II. In concr., that which recommends, the excellence of a thing, worth, praise, a recommendation: “ingenii,” Cic. Brut. 67, 238: “liberalitatis,” id. Fam. 1, 7, 9: “majorum,” id. Cat. 1, 11, 28: “probitatis,” id. de Or. 2, 52, 211: “fumosarum imaginum (i. e. nobilitatis),” id. Pis. 1, 1: “tanta (erat) oris atque orationis,” Nep. Alcib. 1, 2: “formae atque aetatis, Auct. B. Alex. 41: animi,” Quint. 4, 2, 113: “morum,” id. 11, 3, 154: “prima commendatio proficiscitur a modestiā,” Cic. Off. 2, 13, 46; cf. id. ib. § 45; id. Deiot. 1, 2: “Epicurus, cum in primā commendatione voluptatem dixisset,” id. Fin. 2, 12, 35; cf. id. ib. 5, 14, 40.