dean 1
— deanship , n.
/deen/ , n.
1. Educ.
a. the head of a faculty, school, or administrative division in a university or college: the dean of admissions.
b. an official in an American college or secondary school having charge of student personnel services, such as counseling or discipline: the dean of men.
c. the official in charge of undergraduate students at an English university.
2. Eccles.
a. the head of the chapter of a cathedral or a collegiate church.
b. Also called vicar forane . a priest in the Roman Catholic Church appointed by a bishop to take care of the affairs of a division of a diocese.
3. the senior member, in length of service, of any group, organization, profession, etc.: the dean of lexicographers.
[ 1300-50; ME deen deen, dean, OF deien decanus chief of ten, equiv. to L dec ( em ) ten + -anus -AN ]
dean 2
/deen/ , n. Brit.
dene.