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.