In English ecclesiastical law. An ecclesiastical dignitary who presides over the chapter of a cathedral, and is next in rank to the bishop. So callcd from having been originally appointed to superintend ten canons or prebendaries. 1 Bl. Comm. 382; Co. Litt. 95; Spelman. There are several kinds of deans, namely; Deans of chapters; deans of peculiars; rural deans; deans iu the colleges; honorary deans; deans of provinces.
