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The chief or senior of a company on occasion of ceremony; as, the dean of the diplomatic corps; -- so called by courtesy. Cardinal dean, the senior cardinal bishop of the college of cardinals at Rome. Shipley. -- Dean and chapter, the legal corporation and governing body of a cathedral. It consists of the dean, who is…

who has taken the highest degree conferred by a university or college, or has received a diploma of the highest degree; as, a doctor of divinity, of law, of medicine, of music, or of philosophy. Such diplomas may confer an honorary title only.

-- said of that out of which anything is formed or constituted, in whole or in part. The diplomatic politicians . . . who formed by far the majority. Burke.

r university, to admit, at the close of the course, to an honorable standing defined by a diploma; as, he was graduated at Yale College.

roduct of the conditions from time to time of international intercourse, being drawn from diplomatic discussion, textbooks, proof of usage, and from recitals in treaties. It is called public when treating of the relations of sovereign powers, and private when of the relations of persons of different nationalities. Inte…

and the persons associated with him in his mission; an embassy; or, in stricter usage, a diplomatic minister and his suite; a deputation.

f a government, sent to the court, or seat of government, of a foreign nation to transact diplomatic business.

The transaction of business between nations; the mutual intercourse of governments by diplomatic agents, in making treaties, composing difference, etc.; as, the negotiations at Ghent. An important negotiation with foreign powers. Macaulay.

A diplomatic missive or written communication.

In modern diplomacy, opportunity for political and commercial intercourse open to all upon equal terms, esp. with reference to a nation whose policy is wholly or partially fixed by nations foreign to itself, or to territory newly acquired by a conquering nation. In this sense, often used adjectively, as, open-door syst…

ense of, or allowance made for, equipment, as by the government of the United States to a diplomatic agent going abroad.

g ancient writings, and determining their origin, period, etc., from external characters; diplomatics.

An agreement of diplomatists indicating the results reached by them at a particular stage of a negotiation.

Formerly, an officer of state charged with the duty of procuring and dispatching diplomas and decrees.

A diplomatic agent's note asking for instructions from his government concerning a particular matter or point.

A diplomatic representative who resides at a foreign court; -- a term usualy applied to ministers of a rank inferrior to that of ambassadors. See the Note under Minister,4.

Of or pertaining to a secretary; befitting a secretary. [R.] Secretarial, diplomatic, or other official training. Carlyle.

A diploma; -- so called because usually written or printed on parchment prepared from the skin of the sheep. [College Cant]

The quality or state of being shifty. Diplomatic shiftiness and political versatility. J. A. Syminds.

Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.