I. ˈdelə̇gə̇t, -lēg-, -ˌgāt, usu -d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English delegat, from Medieval Latin delegatus, from Latin, past participle of delegare to delegate, from de- + legare to send — more at legate
: a person sent and empowered to act for another : deputy , representative , commissioner : as
a. : a representative to a convention or conference (as of a political party)
b. : a member of a committee for some branch of university business at Oxford University
c. : a representative of a United States territory in the House of Representatives who has the right to debate but not to vote
d. : a member of the lower house of the legislature of Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia
II. -ˌgāt, usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin delegatus, past participle of delegare
1. : to entrust to another : transfer , assign , commit
power delegated by the people to the legislature
one may delegate one's authority to a competent assistant
2. : to send (someone) as one's representative or as a delegate : commission , depute
delegated her to watch over the sleeping children
the union will delegate three representatives to the convention
3. Roman & civil law : to assign (a debtor of oneself) to a creditor as a debtor in place of oneself
III. -_gə̇t, -ˌgāt adjective
Etymology: Latin delegatus
archaic : delegated