delegate

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A type of variable storing a reference to a method with a particular signature, analogous to a function pointer.

   Historically, all viable frameworks have always provided a mechanism to implement callbacks. C# goes one step further and encapsulates callbacks into callable objects called delegates.

2. 2
   noun

   A member of a governmental legislature who lacks voting power.

   The house of delegates in apartheid-era South Africa lacked any real voting power.

3. 3
   verb

   To commit tasks and responsibilities to others, especially subordinates.

   New Zealand Prime Minister John Key was perceived to delegate effectively. Wayne Mapp, a minister under Key observed he had 'a different style than the traditional style of New Zealand political management. He delegates in the manner of a chief executive, and lets ministers get on with their jobs' (Mapp 2014).

4. 4
   verb

   To commit (a task or responsibility) to someone, especially a subordinate.

   The war on Covid-19 was delegated to the health secretary, Matt Hancock, a paralysed NHS and scientists publicly feuding over dud data.

5. 5
   noun

   a person appointed or elected to represent others

6. 6
   verb

   give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)

7. 7
   verb

   transfer power to someone

8. 8
   noun

   A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.

Etymology

From Middle English delegat, from Old French delegat, from Latin dēlēgātus substantivized from the nominative masculine singular of dēlēgātus, the perfect passive participle of dēlēgō (“to send, assign, delegate”), see -ate (noun-forming suffix). See also legate.