communicate

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin commūnicātus, perfect passive participle of commūnicō (“share, impart; make common”), from commūnis (“common”). Doublet of commune.

verb

1. To impart
   1. (transitive) To impart or transmit (information or knowledge) to someone; to make known, to tell.
      It is vital that I communicate this information to you.
   2. (transitive) To impart or transmit (an intangible quantity, substance); to give a share of.
      to communicate motion by means of a crank
      Where God is worshipped, there he communicates his blessings and holy influences. 1660, Jeremy Taylor, The Worthy Communicant; or a Discourse of the Nature, Effects, and Blessings consequent to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper
   3. (transitive) To pass on (a disease) to another person, animal etc.
      The disease was mainly communicated via rats and other vermin.
2. To share
   1. (transitive, obsolete) To share (in); to have in common, to partake of.
      We shall now consider those functions of intelligence which man communicates with the higher beasts.
      thousands that communicate our loss
   2. (intransitive, Christianity) To receive the bread and wine at a celebration of the Eucharist; to take part in Holy Communion.
      It seems that now [the Devil] was driving Alison hard. She had been remiss of late — fewer souls sent to hell, less zeal in quenching the Spirit, and, above all, the crowning offense that her bairn had communicated in Christ's kirk. 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide
      The ‘better sort’ might communicate on a separate day; and in some parishes even the quality of the communion wine varied with the social quality of the recipients. 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 148
   3. (transitive, Christianity) To administer the Holy Communion to (someone).
      She [the church] […] may communicate him. 1660, Jeremy Taylor, The Worthy Communicant; or a Discourse of the Nature, Effects, and Blessings consequent to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper
   4. (intransitive) To express or convey ideas, either through verbal or nonverbal means; to have intercourse, to exchange information.
      Many deaf people communicate with sign language.
      I feel I hardly know him; I just wish he'd communicate with me a little more.
   5. (intransitive) To be connected with (another room, vessel etc.) by means of an opening or channel.
      The living room communicates with the back garden by these French windows.