I.
variant of dene I
II. ˈdēn noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English deen, from Middle French deien, from Late Latin decanus, literally, chief of ten, from Latin decem ten + -anus -an — more at ten
1. obsolete : a chief of 10 men : tithingman 1
2.
a. : a head over 10 monks in a monastery
b. : the head of the chapter or body of canons or prebendaries in a collegiate or cathedral church
c. : a priest of the Roman Catholic Church appointed by a bishop to supervise the affairs of a group of parishes within the diocese — called also vicar forane
3.
a. : a resident fellow at an English university charged with the discipline rather than the instruction of undergraduates
b. : the head of one of the divisions, faculties, colleges, or schools of a university
the deans of several leading medical colleges
the dean of the faculty of arts
the student must obtain the approval of the appropriate deans and the chairmen of the departments concerned
c. : an administrative officer at a college or secondary school who counsels students on academic matters (as choice of program, maintenance of academic standing, honors, or failure) and who in addition has some disciplinary authority pertaining to such matters as breach of dormitory rules, unexcused absences, cheating and plagiarism, suspension, or dismissal
dean of men
dean of women
dean of freshmen
dean of the senior class
4. : a high officer of the orders of the Thistle and of the Bath who is always a clergyman — compare chaplain
5. : the senior of a group of men : doyen 1a
III. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to act as dean
was asked to dean