The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Committee \Com`mit*tee"\, n. [From Commit, v. t.] (Law)
   One to whom the charge of the person or estate of another, as
   of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Committee \Com*mit"tee\, n. [Cf. OF. comit['e] company, and LL.
   comitatus jurisdiction or territory of a count, county,
   assize, army. The word was apparently influenced by the verb
   commit, but not directly formed from it. Cf. County.]
   One or more persons elected or appointed, to whom any matter
   or business is referred, either by a legislative body, or by
   a court, or by any collective body of men acting together.
   [1913 Webster]

   Committee of the whole [house], a committee, embracing all
      the members present, into which a legislative or
      deliberative body sometimes resolves itself, for the
      purpose of considering a particular measure under the
      operation of different rules from those governing the
      general legislative proceedings. The committee of the
      whole has its own chairman, and reports its action in the
      form of recommendations.

   Standing committee. See under Standing.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

committee
    n 1: a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a
         committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" -
         Milton Berle [syn: committee, commission]
    2: a self-constituted organization to promote something [syn:
       committee, citizens committee]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

59 Moby Thesaurus words for "committee":
   ad hoc committee, assemblee, assembly, assignation, at home, ball,
   board, body, brawl, cabinet, caucus, colloquium, commission,
   committee of one, conclave, concourse, congregation, congress,
   conventicle, convention, convocation, council, dance, date,
   delegation, deputation, diet, eisteddfod, festivity, fete,
   forgathering, forum, gathering, get-together, housewarming, levee,
   meet, meeting, mission, panel, party, plenum, prom, quorum, rally,
   reception, rendezvous, seance, session, shindig, sit-in, sitting,
   soiree, special committee, standing committee, subcommittee,
   symposium, synod, turnout



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

COMMITTEE, practice. When a person has been found non compos, the law
requires that a guardian should be appointed to take care of his person and
estate; this guardian is called the committee.
     2. It is usual to select the committee from the next of kin; Shelf. on
Lun. 137; and in case of the lunacy of the husband or wife, the one who is
of sound mind is entitled, unless under very special circumstances, to be
the committee of the other. Id. 140. This is the committee of the person.
For committee of the estate, the heir at law is most favored. Relations are
referred to strangers, but the latter may be appointed. Id. 144.
     3. It is the duty of the committee of the person, to take care of the
lunatic; and the committee of the estate is bound to administer the estate
faithfully, and to account for his administration. He cannot in general,
make contracts in relation to the estate of the lunatic, or bind it, without
a Special order of the court or authority that appointed him. Id. 179; 1
Bouv. Inst. n. 389-91.



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

COMMITTEE, legislation. One or more members of a legislative body to whom is
specially referred some matter before that body, in order that they may
investigate and examine into it and report to those who delegated this
authority to them.