Dep"u*ty (-t?), 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.
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.
☞ 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 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.