Dean

(den.) [From L. dec anus; Fr. doyen.] (Eccl.) In the Church of England, a dignity next in rank to a bishop, and head of the chapter in a cathedral or council; hence the term Dean and Chapter, viz., a corporate body in which is vested the property of the cathedral, and the management of the estates belonging to it;the term is derived from the chapter originally consisting of ten (Lat. decem) prebendaries.- DEAN OF THE FACULTY, the presiding head of a faculty of arts in the Scottish universities -. DEAN OF A COLLEGE, in England, a functionary who has general supervision of the religious duties of the students. [s. 268]