dean1
n.
- the head of the chapter of a cathedral or collegiate church.
▸
(also rural dean, area dean)
Brit. a member of the clergy exercising supervision over a group of parochial clergy within a division of an archdeaconry.
- the head of a university faculty or department or of a medical school.
▸a college officer with a disciplinary role.
Derivative
- deanery n.
(pl. deaneries)
.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. deien, from late L. decanus ‘chief of a group of ten’, from decem ‘ten’; cf. doyen.