From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Commutation \Com`mu*ta"tion\, n. [L. commutatio: cf. F.
commutation.]
1. A passing from one state to another; change; alteration;
mutation. [R.]
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So great is the commutation that the soul then hated
only that which now only it loves. --South.
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2. The act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange.
[Obs.]
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The use of money is . . . that of saving the
commutation of more bulky commodities. --Arbuthnot.
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3. (Law) The change of a penalty or punishment by the
pardoning power of the State; as, the commutation of a
sentence of death to banishment or imprisonment.
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Suits are allowable in the spiritual courts for
money agreed to be given as a commutation for
penance. --Blackstone.
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4. A substitution, as of a less thing for a greater, esp. a
substitution of one form of payment for another, or one
payment for many, or a specific sum of money for
conditional payments or allowances; as, commutation of
tithes; commutation of fares; commutation of copyright;
commutation of rations.
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5. regular travel from a place of residence to a place where
one's daily work is performed; commuting. Most often, such
travel is performed between a suburb and a nearby city.
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{Angle of commutation} (Astron.), the difference of the
geocentric longitudes of the sun and a planet.
{Commutation of tithes}, the substitution of a regular
payment, chargeable to the land, for the annual tithes in
kind.
{Commutation ticket}, a ticket, as for transportation, which
is the evidence of a contract for service at a reduced
rate. See 2d {Commute}, 2.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
commutation
n 1: the travel of a commuter [syn: {commutation}, {commuting}]
2: a warrant substituting a lesser punishment for a greater one
3: (law) the reduction in severity of a punishment imposed by
law [syn: {commutation}, {re-sentencing}]
4: the act of putting one thing or person in the place of
another: "he sent Smith in for Jones but the substitution
came too late to help" [syn: {substitution}, {exchange},
{commutation}]
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