decan
(ˈdɛkən)
Also 5–6 decane.
[ad. L. decānus, Gr. δεκανός; cf. dean.]
† 1. A chief or ruler of ten. Obs.
| 1569 J. Sandford tr. Agrippa's Van. Artes 130 a, Moses did then appoint them..Centurians, Quinquagenarians and Decans. |
2. Astrol. The chief or ruler of ten parts, or ten degrees, of a zodiacal sign; also this division itself. Cf. decanate1.
| 1588 J. Harvey Discours. Probl. 103 The great Coniunction of Saturne and Iupiter in the last Decane of Pisces. 1651 J. F[reake] Agrippa's Occ. Philos. 391 Angels who might rule the signs, triplicities, decans, quinaries, degrees and stars. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. iv. 317 (transl. Porphyrius) Such of the Egyptians as talk of no other Gods but the planets..their decans, and horoscopes, and robust princes, as they call them. 1812 Buchan in Singer Hist. Cards 361 Each of these signs is divided into three decans or thirty degrees. |
† 3. = dean1. Obs.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) VII. 477 Symon..decan [1387 Trevisa deen] in the same churche. 1496 Will of Hawarden (Somerset Ho.), Decane of the Arches. 1538 Leland Itin. II. 40 Walingford..There is also a Collegiate Chapel..There is a Decane, 4 Prestes, 6 Clerkes, and 4 Choristers. |