WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Dep"u*ty
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [F. d?put?, fr. LL. deputatus. See Depute.]
Definition : 1. One appointed as the substitue of another, and empowered to act for him, in his name or his behalf; a substitute in office; a lieutenant; a representative; a delegate; a vicegerent; as, the deputy of a prince, of a sheriff, of a township, etc. There was then [in the days of Jehoshaphat] no king in Edom; a deputy was king. 1 Kings xxii. 47. God's substitute, His deputy anointed in His sight. Shak.

Note: Deputy is used in combination with the names of various executive officers, to denote an assistant empowered to act in their name; as, deputy collector, deputy marshal, deputy sheriff.

2. A member of the Chamber of Deputies. [France] Chamber of Deputies, one of the two branches of the French legilative assembly; -- formerly called Corps L?gislatif. Its members, called deputies, are elected by the people voting in districts.

Syn. -- Substitute; representative; legate; delegate; envoy; agent; factor.

pl. Deputies.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913