Deputed

Deputed is the past participle of the verb depute, meaning to appoint someone to act on behalf of another or to delegate authority. As an adjective, it describes a person who has been given authority to perform duties or to represent a group. The related noun forms are deputation and deputyship, and the related verb forms include deputize or depute.

Etymology: The term derives from Old French deputé, from Latin deputatus, the past participle of deputare “to appoint by delegation,” formed from de- “away” and ponere “to place.” The English verb depute entered Middle English with the sense of appointing a deputy or sending a representative.

Usage: In formal or administrative contexts, one may say that a manager deputed an assistant to handle a project, or that a committee deputed a member to negotiate on its behalf. The phrase “deputed to” emphasizes delegated authority for a defined task or period. In contemporary American English, the term is less common in everyday usage; “deputized” is often used in law enforcement or for granting temporary authority, while “deputy” refers to the person who acts as the deputy rather than the act of appointing them.

See also: deputation, deputy, deputyship, deputize, depute.