commentary Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a written explanation or criticism or illustration that is added to a book or other textual material
    comment.
    • he wrote an extended comment on the proposal

WordNet

Com"men*ta*ry noun
Etymology
L. commentarius, commentarium, note book, commentary: cf. F. commentaire. See Comment, v. i.
Wordforms
plural Commentaries
Definitions
  1. A series of comments or annotations; esp., a book of explanations or expositions on the whole or a part of the Scriptures or of some other work.
    This letter . . . was published by him with a severe commentary. Hallam.
  2. A brief account of transactions or events written hastily, as if for a memorandum; -- usually in the plural; as, Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War.

Webster 1913