DEAN, and related entries

DEAN, n. [Fr. doyen, the eldest of a corporation; Arm. dean; Sp. dean, decano; Port. deam, decano; It. decano; from L. decanus, the leader of a file ten deep, the head of a college, from decem, Gr. {}, W. deg, ten; so named because originally he was set over ten canons or prebendaries. Ayliffe.]

1. In England, an ecclesiastical dignitary in cathedral and collegiate churches, and the head of a chapter; the second dignitary of a diocese. Ancient deans are elected by the chapter in virtue of a conge d'elire from the king and letters missive of recommendation; but in the chapters founded by Henry VIII, out of the spoils of dissolved monasteries, the deanery is donative, and the installation merely by the king's letters patent. Encyc.
2. An officer in each college of the universities in England. Warton.
3. In the United States, a registrar in a medical school. Rural dean, or arch-presbyter, had originally jurisdiction over ten churches; but afterward he became only the bishop's substitute, to grant letters of administration, probate of wills, &c. His office is now lost in that of the archdeacon and chancellor. Encyc. Dean of a monastery, a superior established under the abbot, to ease him in taking care of ten monks. Hence his name. Encyc. Dean and Chapter, are the bishop's council, to aid him with their advice in affairs of religion, and in the temporal concerns of his see. Encyc.

DEAN'ER-Y, a.

1. The office or the revenue of a dean. Clarendon. Swift.
2. The house of a dean.
3. The jurisdiction of a dean. Each archdeaconry is divided into rural deaneries, and each deanery is divided into parishes. Blackstone.

DEAN'SHIP, n.

The office of a dean.

DEC'A-NAL, a. [See Dean.]

Pertaining to a deanery.