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Definition mandate

Etymology

Noun is borrowed from Latin mand?tum (“a charge, order, command, commission, injunction”), neut of. mand?tus, past participle of mand?re (“to commit to one's charge, order, command, commission, literally to put into one's hands”), from manus (“hand”) + dare (“to put”). Compare command, commend, demand, remand.

The verb is from the noun.

Noun

mandate (plural mandates)

1. (Can we clean up this sense?) An official or authoritative command; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept.
2. (politics) The authority to do something, as granted to a politician by the electorate.
3. A papal rescript.
4. (Canada) A period during which a government is in power.