German edit

Etymology edit

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 edit

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

Noun edit

Dechant m (weak, genitive Dechanten, plural Dechanten)

  1. (Christianity) dean (kind of church official)
    Synonym: Dekan

Declension edit

Derived terms edit