n.; pl. Deputies [ F. député, fr. LL. deputatus. See Depute. ] 1. One appointed as the substitute 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. [ 1913 Webster ] There was then [ in the days of Jehoshaphat ] no king in Edom; a deputy was king. 1 Kings xxii. 47. [ 1913 Webster ] God's substitute, His deputy anointed in His sight. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A member of the Chamber of Deputies. [ France ] [ 1913 Webster ] Chamber of Deputies, one of the two branches of the French legislative assembly; -- formerly called Corps Législatif. Its members, called deputies, are elected by the people voting in districts. Syn. -- Substitute; representative; legate; delegate; envoy; agent; factor. [ 1913 Webster ] |