n. Care; management.n. The management of another's affairs; the being intrusted with such management.n. A document by which a person is empowered to transact the affairs of another. See mandate, 4 .n. Eccles.: Formerly, provision of the necessary expenses for visitation, due from a church, monastery, or incumbent, etc., to the bishop or archdeacon upon his visitation.n. In modern usage, the sum of money paid to a bishop or archdeacon as a commutation for the above provision.