Decanatus

DECANIA, DECANA (Lat). A town or tithing, consisting originally of ten families of freeholders. Ten tithings compose a hundred.

1 Bla. Com. 114; Medley, Orig. Illus. Eng. Const Hist. Decanatus, a deanery, a company of ten.

Spelman, Gloss.; Calvinus, Lex. Decania, Decana, the territory under the charge of a dean. DECANUS (Lat.). A dean; an officer having charge of ten persons. In Constantinople, an officer who has charge of the burial of the dead. Nov. Jus. 43, 59; Du Cange. The term is of extensive use, being found with closely related meanings in the old Roman, the civil, ecclesiastical, and old European law. It is used of civil and ecclesiastical as well as military affairs. There were a variety of decani. Decanus monasticus, the dean of a monastery. Decanus in majori ecclesia, dean of a cathedral church. Decanus militaris, a military captain of ten soldiers. Decanus episcopi, a dean presiding over ten parishes. Decanus Jrioorgi, dean of a fribourg, tithing, or association of ten inhabitants. A Saxon officer, whose duties were those of an inferior judicial officer. Du Cange; Spelman, Gloss.; Calvinus, Lex. DECAPITATION (Lat. de, from, caput, a head). The act of beheading. In some countries a method of capital punishment

See Capital Punishment.