v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Communicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Communicating. ] [ L. communicatus, p. p. of communicare to communicate, fr. communis common. See Commune, v. i. ] 1. To share in common; to participate in. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] To thousands that communicate our loss. B. Jonson [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To impart; to bestow; to convey; as, to communicate a disease or a sensation; to communicate motion by means of a crank. [ 1913 Webster ] Where God is worshiped, there he communicates his blessings and holy influences. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To make known; to recount; to give; to impart; as, to communicate information to any one. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. To administer the communion to. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ] She [ the church ] . . . may communicate him. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ This verb was formerly followed by with before the person receiving, but now usually takes to after it. [ 1913 Webster ] He communicated those thoughts only with the Lord Digby. Clarendon. Syn. -- To impart; bestow; confer; reveal; disclose; tell; announce; recount; make known. -- To Communicate, Impart, Reveal. Communicate is the more general term, and denotes the allowing of others to partake or enjoy in common with ourselves. Impart is more specific. It is giving to others a part of what we had held as our own, or making them our partners; as, to impart our feelings; to impart of our property, etc. Hence there is something more intimate in imparting intelligence than in communicating it. To reveal is to disclose something hidden or concealed; as, to reveal a secret. [ 1913 Webster ] |