In the civil law. He who lends to another a thing for a definite time, to be enjoyed and used under certain conditions, without any pay or reward, is called "commodans;” the person who re-ceives the thing is called “commodatarius," and the contract is called "commodatum.” It differs from locatio and conductio, in this: that the use of the thing is gratuitous. Dig. 13, 6; Inst. 3, 2, 14; Story, Bailm. S 221. Coggs v. Bernard, 2 Ld. Raym. 909; Adams v. Mortgage Co., 82 Miss. 263, 34 South. 482, 17 L. R. A. (N. S.) 138, 100 Am. St Rep. 633; world’s Columbian Exposition Co. v. Repub-lic of France, 96 Fed. 693, 38 0. C. A. 483
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
