DEAN

dean. 1.Eccles. law. An officer who leads a chapter, parish, or other subdivision of a diocese,

usu. upon a bishop’s request or appointment.

“A dean and chapter are the council of the bishop, to assist him with their advice in affairs of

religion,  and  also  in  the  temporal  concerns  of  his  see  ….  All  ancient  deans  are  elected  by  the

chapter,  by  conge  d’eslire  from  the  king,  and  letters  missive  of  recommendation;  in  the  same

manner as bishops: but in those chapters, that were founded by Henry VIII out of the spoils of the

dissolved   monasteries,  the  deanery  is  donative  ….  The  chapter,  consisting  of  canons  or

prebendaries,  are  sometimes  appointed  by  the  king,  sometimes  by  the  bishop,  and  sometimes

elected  by  each  other.”  1  William  Blackstone,  Commentaries  on  the  Laws  of  England  370–71

(1765).

2. In a school, college, or university, the administrative or academic head. • In larger schools,

there may be several kinds of deans, such as a dean of admissions and a dean of student affairs.

Within  a  university,  there  may  be  deans  of  specific  schools.  [Cases:  Colleges  and  Universities

7.C.J.S. Colleges and Universities §§ 15–18.] 3. The head or commander of a group of ten, such as

ten soldiers or ten monks. [Blacks Law 8th]