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Command vs Ask - What's the difference?

command | ask |

As nouns the difference between command and ask

is that command is an order to do something while ask is an act or instance of asking.

As verbs the difference between command and ask

is that command is to order, give orders; to compel or direct with authority while ask is to request (information, or an answer to a question).

As a proper noun Ask is

the first male human, according to the Poetic Edda.

command

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An order to do something.
    • I was given a command to cease shooting.
  • The right or authority to order, control or dispose of; the right to be obeyed or to compel obedience.
    • to have command of an army
  • power of control, direction or disposal; mastery.
    • he had command of the situation
    England has long held command of the sea
    a good command of language
  • A position of chief authority; a position involving the right or power to order or control.
    • General Smith was placed in command .
  • The act of commanding; exercise or authority of influence.
    • Command cannot be otherwise than savage, for it implies an appeal to force, should force be needful.'' (''H. Spencer , Social Statics, p. 180)
  • (military) A body or troops, or any naval or military force, under the control of a particular officer; by extension, any object or body in someone's charge.
  • * 1899 ,
    • I asked myself what I was to do there, now my boat was lost. As a matter of fact, I had plenty to do in fishing my command out of the river.
  • Dominating situation; range or control or oversight; extent of view or outlook.
  • (computing) A directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task.
  • (baseball) The degree of control a pitcher has over his pitches.
    • He's got good command tonight.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To order, give orders; to compel or direct with authority.
    • The soldier was commanded to cease firing.
    The king commanded his servant to bring him dinner.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • We are commanded' to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are ' commanded to forgive our friends.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Go to your mistress: / Say, I command her come to me.
  • To have or exercise supreme power, control or authority over, especially military; to have under direction or control.
    • to command an army or a ship
  • * Macaulay
    • Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Such aid as I can spare you shall command .
  • To require with authority; to demand, order, enjoin.
    • he commanded silence
    If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Mat. IV. 3.)
  • * 2013 , Louise Taylor, English talent gets left behind as Premier League keeps importing'' (in ''The Guardian , 20 August 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/19/english-talent-premier-league-importing]
    • The reasons for this growing disconnect are myriad and complex but the situation is exacerbated by the reality that those English players who do smash through our game's "glass ceiling" command radically inflated transfer fees.
  • to dominate through ability, resources, position etc.; to overlook.
    • Bridges commanded by a fortified house. (Motley.)
  • To exact, compel or secure by influence; to deserve, claim.
    • A good magistrate commands the respect and affections of the people.
    Justice commands the respect and affections of the people.
    The best goods command the best price.
    This job commands a salary of £30,000.
  • To hold, to control the use of.
    • The fort commanded the bay.
  • * Motley
    • bridges commanded by a fortified house
  • * Shakespeare
    • Up to the eastern tower, / Whose height commands as subject all the vale.
  • * Addison
    • One side commands a view of the finest garden.
  • (archaic) To have a view, as from a superior position.
  • * Milton
    • Far and wide his eye commands .
  • (obsolete) To direct to come; to bestow.
  • * Bible, Leviticus xxv. 21
    • I will command my blessing upon you.

    Synonyms

    * (give an order) decree, order

    Derived terms

    * chain of command * commandable * command economy * commandeer * commander * commandery * command guidance * commanding * command key * command language * command line * commandment * command module * command performance * command post * high command * second in command * self-command * trains command * your wish is my command

    References

    * *

    Statistics

    * English control verbs

    ask

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) asken, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To request (information, or an answer to a question).
    • I asked her age.
  • To put forward (a question) to be answered.
    • to ask a question
  • To interrogate or enquire of (a person).
    • I'm going to ask this lady for directions.
  • * Bible, John ix. 21
    • He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
  • To request or petition; usually with for .
    • to ask for a second helping at dinner
    to ask for help with homework
  • * Bible, Matthew vii. 7
    • Ask , and it shall be given you.
  • To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
    • What price are you asking for the house?
  • * Addison
    • An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity.
  • To invite.
    • Don't ask them to the wedding.
  • To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.
    • (Fuller)
  • (figuratively) To take (a person's situation) as an example.
  • *
    • Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See * Pronouncing ask as /æks/ is a common example of metathesis and a feature of some varieties of English, notably African American Vernacular English (AAVE). * The action expressed by the verb ask'' can also be expressed by the noun-verb combination ''pose a question'' (confer the parallel in German between ''fragen'' and ''eine Frage stellen ).
    Derived terms
    * ask after * ask around * ask for * ask in * ask out * ask over * ask round * for the asking * no questions asked * outask

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act or instance of asking.
  • * 2005 , Laura Fredricks, The ask :
    • To ask for a gift is a privilege, a wonderful expression of commitment to and ownership of the organization. Getting a yes to an ask can be a rush, but asking for the gift can and should be just as rewarding.
  • Something asked or asked for; a request.
  • * 2008 , Doug Fields, Duffy Robbins, Speaking to Teenagers :
    • Communication researchers call this the foot-in-the-door syndrome. Essentially it's based on the observation that people who respond positively to a small “ask'” are more likely to respond to a bigger “' ask ” later on.
  • An asking price.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) aske, arske, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An eft; newt.
  • * 1876 , S. Smiles, Scottish Naturalist :
    • He looked at the beast. It was not an eel. It was very like an ask .
  • A lizard.

    • Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * English control verbs English reporting verbs 1000 English basic words ----