'commend' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'commendare', where 'com-' meant 'together' (or intensive) and 'mandare' meant 'to entrust'.

'commend' changed from Latin 'commendare' into Old French (e.g. 'commender' / 'comander') and entered Middle English as 'commenden' / 'commend', eventually becoming the modern English word 'commend'.

Initially, it meant 'to entrust' or 'to commit to someone's care', but over time it developed the additional sense of 'to recommend' and later 'to praise' in modern usage.