deputy
UK[ˈdepjuti]US[ˈdepjuti]
n
A person who is appointed to undertake the duties of a superior in their absence.
n
A second-in-command or assistant who is authorized to act as a substitute for another.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
put
y
de
down, away
put
think, consider
y
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'deputy' entered English in the late Middle Ages from Anglo-French 'deputé', meaning "appointed, assigned." This, in turn, derives from the past participle of the Old French verb 'deputer', which came from the Latin 'deputare'—'de-' (down, away) + 'putare' (to think, reckon). The original Latin sense was "to allot, assign, consider as," involving the idea of careful consideration and assignment of a role or duty. Over time, the meaning specialized to refer to a person who is carefully considered and officially appointed to act on behalf of another, carrying the authority of the original position. The modern sense perfectly retains this logic of a person assigned or appointed to act with the authority of a superior.
Analysis
Structure: de (down, away) + put (think, consider) + y (noun suffix)
- de: A Latin prefix meaning "down, away, off, from."
- put: From the Latin root 'putare', meaning "to think, consider, reckon, clear up."
- y: An English noun-forming suffix, often indicating a state, condition, or person associated with an action.
Examples
She will serve as deputy director while the director is on leave.
The sheriff appointed a new deputy to patrol the county.
He acted as the deputy chairman during the meeting.