Plural of deputy; people appointed to act as a substitute or representative for someone in a position of authority.
From Old French 'deputé,' from Latin 'deputatus' (assigned, appointed). The '-y' ending became '-ie' in Middle English, and the plural adds '-s.'
Deputies are fascinating because they're official backups—many organizations depend entirely on having capable second-in-commands, making deputies sometimes more important than the people they're supposed to assist.
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