1. n.1 a the head of the chapter of a cathedral or collegiate church. b (usu. rural dean) Brit. a member of the clergy exercising supervision over a group of parochial clergy within a division of an archdeaconry.
2 a a college or university official, esp. one of several fellows of a college, with disciplinary and advisory functions. b the head of a university faculty or department or of a medical school.
3 DOYEN.
Phrases and idioms:
Dean of Faculty the president of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland.
Etymology: ME f. AF deen, OF deien, f. LL decanus f. decem ten; orig. chief of a group of ten 2.var. of DENE(1).