
Depute
[də-PYOOT]
Part of speech: verb
Origin: Late Middle English, unknown
1.
Appoint or instruct (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible.
2.
Delegate (authority or a task).
Examples of Depute in a sentence
"The dean decided to depute the review process to the department head."
"He deputed the responsibility of answering emails to the secretary."
About Depute
This word developed in Middle English via influence from French and Latin. The original Latin word "deputare" (consider to be; assign) came from the words "de" (away) and "putare" (consider).
Did you Know?
Do you need a word to describe someone who has been deputed a task? Call them a deputy. A deputy is a representative of an authority who has been delegated a task to complete — similar to how the word depute means delegating a task to an individual.
