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An officer in the pope's court, having charge of the Dataria.

In one's gift; capable of being disposed of at will and pleasure, as an office.

An officer in Christian churches appointed to perform certain subordinate duties varying in different communions. In the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and e…

The state of being a deacon; office of a deacon; deaconship.

The office or ministry of a deacon or deaconess.

tter. (a) A letter which, after lying for a certain fixed time uncalled for at the post office to which it was directed, is then sent to the general post office to be opened. (b) That which has lost its force or authority; as, the law has become a dead letter. -- Dead-letter office, a department of the general post of…

A dignitary or presiding officer in certain ecclesiastical and lay bodies; esp., an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop. Dean of cathedral church, the chief officer of a chapter; he is an ecclesiastical magistrate next in degree to bishop, and has immediate charge of the cathedral and its estates. -- Dea…

The office or the revenue of a dean. See the Note under Benefice, n., 3.

The office of a dean. I dont't value your deanship a straw. Swift.

A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person; the sum thus due.

To remove summarily from office. [Colloq. U. S.]

An attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error; any declaration, artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is false; a contrivance to entrap; deception; a wily device; fraud. Making the ephah small and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit. Amos viii. 5. Fri…

The office or term of office of the decemvirs in Rome.

The office of a decemvir. Holland.

That which deceives or is intended to deceive; false representation; artifice; cheat; fraud. There was of course room for vast deception. Motley.

The act of declining or refusing; as, the declinature of an office.

orary; to adorn; to beautify; to embellish; as, to decorate the person; to decorate an edifice; to decorate a lawn with flowers; to decorate the mind with moral beauties; to decorate a hero with honors. Her fat neck was ornamented with jewels, rich bracelets decorated her arms. Thackeray.

To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap; to insnare; to allure; to entice; as, to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net. Did to a lonely cot his steps decoy. Thomson. E'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy. Goldsmith.…

A head or chief over ten; especially, an officer who commanded a division of ten soldiers.

The office of a decurion.