— deputyship , n.
/dep"yeuh tee/ , n. , pl. deputies .
1. a person appointed or authorized to act as a substitute for another or others.
2. See deputy sheriff .
3. a person appointed or elected as assistant to a public official, serving as successor in the event of a vacancy.
4. a person representing a constituency in certain legislative bodies.
adj.
5. appointed, elected, or serving as an assistant or second-in-command.
[ 1375-1425; late ME depute deputer to DEPUTE ]
Syn. 1. agent, representative, surrogate, envoy, emissary, proxy.