Comment, n.
Etymology: [Cf. OF. comment.]
1. A remark, observation, or criticism; gossip; discourse; talk. Their lavish comment when her name was named. Tennyson.
2. A note or observation intended to explain, illustrate, or criticise the meaning of a writing, book, etc.; explanation; annotation; exposition. All the volumes of philosophy, With all their comments. Prior.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Comment, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commented; p. pr. & vb. n. Commenting.]
To make remarks, observations, or criticism; especially, to write notes on the works of an author, with a view to illustrate his meaning, or to explain particular passages; to write annotations; -- often followed by on or upon. A physician to comment on your malady. Shak. Critics . . . proceed to comment on him. Dryden. I must translate and comment. Pope.
Comment, v. t.
To comment on. [Archaic.] Fuller.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for comment; he lists it under definition, remark, reproof.
Where he writes about it:
A comment is upon a single passage; a commentary may be the same, but is usually understood to be a volume of comments. — from definition
A remark is a saying or brief statement, oral or written, commonly made without much premeditation; a comment is an explanatory or critical remark, as upon some passage in a literary work or some act or speech in common life. — from remark
A note upon some passage in a book is briefer and less elaborate than a comment. — from remark
Blame, censure, and disapproval may either be felt or uttered; comment, criticism, rebuke, reflection, reprehension, and reproof are always expressed. — from reproof
Comment and criticism may be favorable as well as censorious; they imply no superiority or authority on the part of him who utters them; nor do reflection or reprehension, which are simply turning the mind back upon what is disapproved. — from reproof