Delegate | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Dĕl'e-gāte, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DELEGATED; p. pr. & vb. n. DELEGATING.] [Lat. delegare, delegatum, from de and legare, to send with a commission, to send as embassador, to depute; Fr., Sp., & Pg. delegar, It. delegare, Fr. déléguer. See LEGATE.]

Sense 1. To send as one's representative; to empower as an embassador; to commission; to depute; as, to delegate commissioners.

Sense 2. To intrust to the care or management of another; to assign; to commit. “The delegated administration of the law.” Locke. “Delegated executive power.” Bancroft.

Dĕl'e-gāte, n.

noun

n. [See infra.] 1. A person sent and empowered to act for another; one deputed to represent another; a deputy; a representative; a commissioner; a vicar; an attorney.

Sense 2. (a.) A person elected by the people of a territory to represent them in Congress, where he has the right of debating, but not of voting. (b.) A person sent to a convention for nomination of officers, or for forming or altering a constitution. [U. S.]

Court of delegates, the great court of appeal in all ecclesiastical causes, and also from the decisions of the Admiralty. It is now abolished, and the privy council is the immediate court of appeal in such cases. [Eng.]

Dĕl'e-gate, a.

adjective

a. [Lat. delegatus, p. p. of delegare. See DELEGATE, v. t.] Sent to act for or represent another; deputed; as, a delegate judge. “Delegate power.” Strype.