See Also: dean(dictionary)
dean(dictionary)
Dean(medicine)
DEAN, eccl(law)
Dean, Dizzy(encyclopedia)
Dean (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Dean, Dizzy(dictionary)
Dean, James(dictionary)
Forest of Dean(dictionary)
dean's list(dictionary)

dean (iou)



dean noun1. [di:n] Also (esp. as a title) Dean. ME.
[Anglo-Norman de(e)n, Old French d(e)ien (mod. doyen), from late Latin decanus chief of a group of ten, from Latin decem ten, after primanus member of the first legion, perh. infl. by Greek deka ten.]
I. Christian Church.
The head of the chapter of a cathedral or a collegiate church. ME.
More fully rural dean. A member of the clergy exercising supervision (under the bishop or archdeacon) over a group of parochial clergy within a division of an archdeaconry. ME.
b. More generally, a member of the clergy invested with a specified charge and having a particular jurisdiction. M17.
Dean of peculiars: see PECULIAR noun. Dean of the Arches: see ARCH noun1 1.
Hist. [translating ecclesiastical Latin decanus.] The head of ten monks in a monastery. LME.
II. gen.
A head, chief, or commander of a division of ten. LME-L15.
Hist. More fully Dean of guild. An officer of a medieval guild who summoned members to attend meetings etc. Also (Scot.), the head of the guild or merchant-company of a royal burgh, latterly usu. a member of the town council. LME.
The leader or senior member of any body; a doyen. LME.
Dean of Faculty the president of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland. Dean of the Sacred College the senior member of the Sacred College, usu. the oldest of the Cardinal Bishops, who presides in the consistory in the absence of the Pope.
The head of a university faculty or department, or of a medical school. Also (N. Amer.), the registrar or secretary of a university or college faculty. E16.
dean's list N. Amer. a list of students receiving special recognition from the dean of a college or university for academic excellence.
In a college or university (esp. Oxford or Cambridge), a fellow, or each of a number of fellows (formerly and still sometimes resident) with disciplinary and advisory functions. L16.
junior dean, senior dean, etc.
deaness noun (a) Christian Church a woman who is head of a female chapter; (b) joc. the wife of a dean: M18.
deanship noun the office, position, or rank of a dean; joc. (
his Deanship etc.) used as the title of a dean: M16.