Dechant

Dech-ant Katholizismus: Vorsteher eines Kirchenbezirks

From Middle High German dechant, techant, from Old High German tehhant, tehhan, from Proto-West Germanic *dekan (“deacon”), from Latin decanus (“dean”). Doublet of Dekan, a 15th-century borrowing.

In Middle Low German dēken, the full vowel in the second syllable was protected by adaptation to various Latin suffixes. The initial d- was also restored by relatinisation; compare already Old High German degan (possibly from spoken Romance).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /deˈçant/, (dated) /ˈdeːçant/, /ˈdɛçant/

Audio:

Duration: 2 seconds.0:02

Noun

Dechant m (weak, genitive Dechanten, plural Dechanten)

1. (Christianity) dean (kind of church official) [ synonym ▲]

   Synonym: Dekan