an ecclesiastical dignitary in cathedral and collegiate churches, and head of the chapter.

Dean and Chapter, are the bishop's council to assist him in the affairs of religion, and to attest to every grant which the bishop shall make to bind his successors. As a deanship is a spiritual dignity, a man cannot be a dean and prebendary of the same church.

Dean of guild, in Scots law, a magistrate of a royal borough, who has the cognizance of mercantile causes, and the inspection of buildings within borough. See SCOTS LAW, title 4.

DEATH is generally considered as the separation of the soul and body; in which sense it stands opposed to life, which confits in the union thereof.

The law of Death-bed, in Scots law, the privilege which that law allows to an heir of reducing all deeds respecting the heritable estate of his predecessor, granted by him while on death bed, in prejudice of the lawful heir. All deeds are liable to reduction ex capitio levis, that are granted by a person within sixty days of his death, if he had then contracted the disease of which he died, and had not afterwards recovered, so as to have gone to kirk or market unsupported. See SCOTS LAW, title 27.