Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Delegate?

\Del"e*gate\, n. [L. delegatus, p. p. of delegare to send, delegate; de- + legare to send with a commission, to depute. See {Legate}.] 1. Any one sent and empowered to act for another; one deputed to represent; a chosen deputy; a representative; a commissioner; a vicar. 2. (a) One elected by the people of a territory to represent them in Congress, where he has the right of debating, but not of voting. (b) One sent by any constituency to act as its representative in a convention; as, a delegate to a convention for nominating officers, or for forming or altering a constitution. [U.S.] {Court of delegates}, formerly, the great court of appeal from the archbishops' courts and also from the court of admiralty. It is now abolished, and the privy council is the immediate court of appeal in such cases. [Eng.]
\Del"e*gate\, a. [L. delegatus, p. p.] Sent to act for or represent another; deputed; as, a delegate judge. ``Delegate power.'' --Strype.
\Del"e*gate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Delegated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Delegating}.] 1. To send as one's representative; to empower as an ambassador; to send with power to transact business; to commission; to depute; to authorize. 2. To intrust to the care or management of another; to transfer; to assign; to commit. The delegated administration of the law. --Locke. Delegated executive power. --Bancroft. The power exercised by the legislature is the people's power, delegated by the people to the legislative. --J. B. Finch.