commodious

adj

Etymology: From Middle English commodious (“convenient, advantageous”), from Anglo-Norman commodious, Old French commodieux, directly from Medieval Latin commodiosus (“convenient, useful”), irregularly from Latin commodus (“suitable, fit, convenient”), from com- + modus (“measure, manner”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure”). Analyzable as commode (“to provide with an appropriate or necessary thing; to suit”) + -ious.

1. Spacious and convenient; roomy and comfortable.

   “Our house is much more commodious than our old apartment.”

   “And because the hauen was not commodious to winter in, the more part aduised to depart thence […]”

2. Convenient, serviceable, suitable.

   “If they thinke that we ought to proue the ceremonies commodious which we haue reteined, they doe in this point very greatly deceiue themſelues.”

   “There wallowing warm, th’ enormous herd exhales / An oily ſteam, and taints the noon-tide gales. / To that receſs, commodious for ſurprize, / When purple light shall ſuffuſe the skies, / […]”

3. Advantageous, profitable, beneficial.

   “I will now ſhew vnto you, an Example of a Shield, illuſtrated with manifold variety of Celeſtiall bodies, &c. Which will be very neceſſary and commodious to be inſerted in this place.”

   “When a poſition teems thus with commodious conſequences, who can without regret confeſs it to be falſe?”

4. Of life or living, endowed with conveniences; comfortable; free from hardship.

   “The Paſſions that encline man to Peace, are Feare of Death; Deſire of such things as are neceſſary to commodious living; and a Hope by their Induſtry to obtain them.”

   “My Life (ſays Horace) ſpeaking to one of theſe Magnifico's) is a great deal more eaſie and commodious than thine, in that I can go into the Market and cheapen what I pleaſe without being wonder'd at; […]”

5. Of a person, accommodating, obliging, helpful.

   “Patroclus will giue me any thing for the intelligence of / this whore: the Parrot will not doe more for an Almond, / then he for a commodious drab: […]”

   “The dame's a most commodious quean, / A gypsy born, and go-hetween !”