deputy English · revision 4540

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1405|origins=la-lat deputare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdep.jə.ti/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|depute]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|deputé]], a noun use of the past participle of Old French députer “to appoint, assign”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-lat|dēputāre|t=to destine, allot]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) in classical Latin “to esteem, consider”, literally “to cut off, prune”,^(Etymonline) from dē “away” and putāre “to think, count”, literally “to cut, prune”,^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*pewH-|alt=*pau-|t=to cut, strike]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[depute]] and [[deputation]].^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In law, a person authorized to act for another: 1405 in the OED.^(OED 1989) A subordinate officer given the full power of an office: about 1400 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) about 1425 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A governor acting for a sovereign is from about 1490,^(OED 1989) and an elected representative in a legislature, as in France, from 1600.^(OED 1989) In the City of London a deputy is a member of the Common Council acting for an alderman, from 1557.^(OED 1989) ''By deputy'', by proxy, is from 1625,^(OED 1989) and a person sent to act for others, as in a deputation, from 1769.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In northern English coal mines a deputy is a minor official in charge of safety, from 1851.^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898) In the United States a ''deputy'' is commonly a deputy sheriff.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – a subordinate officer.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1405 – in law.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1490 – a governor for a sovereign.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1600 – a member of a legislature.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1769 – a delegate.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1851 – a colliery official.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person appointed to act for another or others.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An assistant with full authority when the superior is absent: ''deputy head''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A member of a legislative [[assembly]] in some countries, as France.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A [[deputy sheriff]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Acting as a deputy: ''the deputy prime minister''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[deputyship]]

+ * [[deputize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[depute]]

+ * [[deputation]]

+ * [[compute]]

+ * [[amputate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}