Decanatus

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

1 Bl. Comm. 114.

Decanatus, a deanery, a company of ten. Spelman; Calv. Lex. 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. Just. 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 frihorgi, 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; Calv. Lex.