COMMUTATION, noun 1. Change; alteration; a passing from one state to another. 2. Exchange; the act of giving one thing for another; barter. The use of money is to save the commutation of more bulky commodities. 3. In law, the change of a penalty or punishment from a greater to a less; as banishment instead of death. Suits are allowable in the spiritual courts for money agreed to be given as a commutation for penance.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI