depute

views updated May 21 2018

depute XV. Partly — (O)F. députer — L. dēputāre destine, assign, f. DE- 2 + putāre consider; partly based on depute pp. (XIV) — (O)F. député, the final syll. of which was dropped as in ASSIGN 2, etc.
So deputation appointment, delegation XIV; body of deputed persons XVIII. — late L. deputy XVI. var. of depute (see above) with final syll. retained; see -Y 5. Hence deputize XVIII.

depute

views updated Jun 11 2018

de·pute / diˈpyoōt/ • v. [tr.] appoint or instruct (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible: she had been deputed to look after him while Clarissa was away. ∎  delegate (authority or a task).

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