committee
UK: kəˈmɪti | US: kəˈmɪti
n. a group of people appointed for a specific function by a larger group or organization
n. (in some contexts) a person entrusted with the charge of another person or thing
committee = commit<to entrust> + ee<noun suffix, recipient of action>
- commit: From Latin committere ("to entrust, unite"), combining com- (together) + mittere (to send). In English, it evolved to mean "to pledge or assign to a task."
- ee: A suffix borrowed from Old French -é, indicating "one who receives or is the object of an action" (e.g., employee, nominee).
Etymology Origin:
The word committee emerged in the late 15th century, originally referring to a person to whom a task was "committed" (entrusted). By the 17th century, it shifted to denote a group assigned collective responsibility, reflecting the suffix -ee's role in institutionalizing the concept of delegated authority. The logic mirrors legal and organizational structures where tasks are formally assigned.
The committee will review the proposals next week.
She was appointed to the finance committee.
The committee unanimously approved the new policy.
A special committee investigated the incident.
He serves on the advisory committee for the project.