deed

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Something that is done; an action.

   One small deed can have a big effect.

2. 2
   noun

   A brave or impressive action.

   The soldiers were honoured for their heroic deeds.

3. 3
   noun

   A legal document that proves ownership of property.

   I signed the deed to the house.

From Middle English dede, from Old English dēd, dǣd (“deed, act”), from Proto-West Germanic *dādi, from Proto-Germanic *dēdiz (“deed”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁tis (“deed, action”). Analyzable through Proto-Germanic as do + -th. Doublet of thesis. 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. Cognates Cognate with West Frisian died, Dutch daad (“deed, act”), German Low German Daad, German Tat (“deed, action”), Swe…

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