\Com*mit"tee\, n. [Cf. OF. comit['e] company, and LL.
comitatus jurisdiction or territory of a count, county,
assize, army. The word was apparently influenced by the verb
commit, but not directly formed from it. Cf. {County}.]
One or more persons elected or appointed, to whom any matter
or business is referred, either by a legislative body, or by
a court, or by any collective body of men acting together.
{Committee of the whole [house]}, a committee, embracing all
   the members present, into which a legislative or
   deliberative body sometimes resolves itself, for the
   purpose of considering a particular measure under the
   operation of different rules from those governing the
   general legislative proceedings. The committee of the
   whole has its own chairman, and reports its action in the
   form of recommendations.
{Standing committee}. See under {Standing}.

\Com`mit*tee"\, n. [From {Commit}, v. t.] (Law)
One to whom the charge of the person or estate of another, as
of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian.