deed

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /diːd/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like did /ɪ/ vs /iː/

Freq #5282

Meanings

1

noun
Something that is done; an action.

One small deed can have a big effect.
2

noun
A brave or impressive action.

The soldiers were honoured for their heroic deeds.
3

noun
A legal document that proves ownership of property.

I signed the deed to the house.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · something that is done; an... act

2 noun · a brave or impressive action. feat exploit

3 noun · a legal document that... title

More action

Word family

Forms deededdeedingdeeds

Derived forms almsdeedcounterdeeddeederdeedfuldeedholderdeedholdingdeedlessdeedlydeedworkdeedworthydeedyfordede

Appears in

Phrases (1)

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title deed
a legal document recording ownership rights in property

Noun + noun

Proverbs (7)

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Etymology

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…

*dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European dede Middle English dēd Old English *dādi Proto-West Germanic *dēdiz Proto-Germanic *dʰéh₁tis Proto-Indo-European

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Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# deed

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /diːd/
**Frequency rank:** 5282

## Meanings
1. Something that is done; an action.
2. A brave or impressive action.
3. A legal document that proves ownership of property.

## Examples
- One small deed can have a big effect.
- The soldiers were honoured for their heroic deeds.
- I signed the deed to the house.

## Synonyms
- act
- action

## Derived Forms
- almsdeed
- counterdeed
- deeder
- deedful
- deedholder
- deedholding
- deedless
- deedly
- deedwork
- deedworthy
- deedy
- fordede

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *dʰeh₁-
- Root: dede
- Root: dēd
- Root: *dādi
- Root: *dēdiz
- Root: *dʰéh₁tis

## Etymology
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…

## AI Etymology
deed comes 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. Current senses include Something that is done; an action and A brave or impressive action. English relatives and later formations include almsdeed, counterdeed, deeder.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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