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, order, or authorization from a superior official to a subordinate; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept. [ 1913 Webster ]

This dream all-powerful Juno; I bear
Her mighty mandates, and her words you hear. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: (Politics) An authorization to carry out a specific public policy, given by the electorate to their representatives; -- it is considered to be implied by the election of a candidate by a significant margin after that candidate has campaigned with that policy as a prominent element of the campaign platform. [ PJC ]

3. Hence: Authorization by a multinational body to a nation to administer the government and affairs of a territory, usually a former colony; as, termination of the British mandate in Palestine. [ PJC ]

4. (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (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. [ 1913 Webster ]