Etymology : Middle English delegat, from Medieval Latin delegatus, from Latin, past participle of delegare to delegate, from de- + legare to send; more at LEGATE
Pronunciation : 'de-li-g&t, -"gAt
Function : noun
Date : 15th century
1. representative, deputy, agent. authorize; appoint as representative; confer authority. delegate\del"e*gate\ , a. [l. delegatus, p. p.] sent to act for or represent another; deputed; as, a delegate judge. "delegate power."delegate \del"e*gate\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. delegated ; p. pr. & vb. n. delegating .].
2. to send as one's representative; to empower as an ambassador; to send with power to transact business; to commission; to depute; to authorize.
3. to intrust to the care or management of another; to transfer; to assign; to commit. the delegated administration of the law. delegated executive power. the power exercised by the legislature is the people's power, delegated by the people to the legislative. b. finch.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.].
4. any one sent and empowered to act for another; one deputed to represent; a chosen deputy; a representative; a commissioner; a vicar.
5. (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.].
6. Any one sent and empowered to act for another; one deputed to represent; a chosen deputy; a representative; a commissioner; a vicar.
7. One elected by the people of a territory to represent them in Congress, where he has the right of debating, but not of voting.
8. 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.
9. Sent to act for or represent another; deputed; as, a delegate judge.
10. To send as one's representative; to empower as an ambassador; to send with power to transact business; to commission; to depute; to authorize.
11. To intrust to the care or management of another; to transfer; to assign; to commit. a person appointed or elected to represent others give an assignment to to a post, or assign a task to transfer power to someone.
12. 1. A delegate is a person who is chosen to vote or make decisions on behalf of a group of other people, especially at a conference or a meeting. = representative.
13. If you delegate duties, responsibilities, or power to someone, you give them those duties, those responsibilities, or that power so that they can act on your behalf. He plans to delegate more authority to his deputies Many employers find it hard to delegate. + delegation del·ega·tion A key factor in running a business is the delegation of responsibility.
14. If you are delegated to do something, you are given the duty of acting on someone else's behalf by making decisions, voting, or doing some particular work. Officials have now been delegated to start work on a draft settlement. = appoint. someone who has been elected or chosen to speak, vote, or take decisions for a group representative (delegatus, from legare ).