The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Nominate \Nom"i*nate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nominated; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Nominating.] [L. nominatus, p. p. of nominare to
   nominate, fr. nomen name. See Name.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To mention by name; to name. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            To nominate them all, it is impossible. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To call; to entitle; to denominate. [Obs.] --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To set down in express terms; to state. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Is it so nominated in the bond?       --Shak.
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   4. To name, or designate by name, for an office or place; to
      appoint; esp., to name as a candidate for an election,
      choice, or appointment; to propose by name, or offer the
      name of, as a candidate for an office or place.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

nominate
    v 1: propose as a candidate for some honor [syn: nominate,
         put up, put forward]
    2: put forward; nominate for appointment to an office or for an
       honor or position; "The President nominated her as head of
       the Civil Rights Commission" [syn: nominate, propose]
    3: charge with a function; charge to be; "She was named Head of
       the Committee"; "She was made president of the club" [syn:
       name, nominate, make]
    4: create and charge with a task or function; "nominate a
       committee" [syn: appoint, name, nominate, constitute]

The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

NOMINATE, v.  To designate for the heaviest political assessment.  To
put forward a suitable person to incur the mudgobbling and deadcatting
of the opposition.