English
deed
see also: Deed
Etymology

From Middle English dede, from Old English dēd, dǣd, from Proto-West Germanic *dādi, from Proto-Germanic *dēdiz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁tis.

The real estate sense derives from the fact that property deeds are traditionally used to demonstrate proof of ownership of a legal title in common law jurisdictions, such as England & Wales and most of the United States.

Cognate with Western Frisian died, Dutch daad, nds-de Daad, German Tat, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish dåd. The Proto-Indo-European root is also the source of Ancient Greek θέσις.

Pronunciation Noun

deed (plural deeds)

  1. An action or act; something that is done.
    One small deed can have one stour effect or more.
  2. A brave or noteworthy action; a feat or exploit.
  3. Action or fact, as opposed to rhetoric or deliberation.
    I have fulfilled my promise in word and in deed.
  4. (legal) A legal instrument that is executed under seal or before a witness; sometimes required for certain legal activities, such as the transfer of certain kinds of property.
    1. (by extension, real estate) The legal title to real estate; ownership.
      I inherited the deed to the house.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Verb

deed (deeds, present participle deeding; simple past and past participle deeded)

  1. (real estate, informal) To transfer real property by deed.
    He deeded over the mineral rights to some fellas from Denver.
Translations
Deed
Proper noun
  1. Surname.


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