from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Deed \Deed\, n. [AS. d[=ae]d; akin to OS. d[=a]d, D. & Dan.
daad, G. that, Sw. d[*a]d, Goth. d[=e]ds; fr. the root of do.
See {Do}, v. t.]
1. That which is done or effected by a responsible agent; an
act; an action; a thing done; -- a word of extensive
application, including, whatever is done, good or bad,
great or small.
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And Joseph said to them, What deed is this which ye
have done? --Gen. xliv.
15.
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We receive the due reward of our deeds. --Luke
xxiii. 41.
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Would serve his kind in deed and word. --Tennyson.
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2. Illustrious act; achievement; exploit. "Knightly deeds."
--Spenser.
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Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn. --Dryden.
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3. Power of action; agency; efficiency. [Obs.]
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To be, both will and deed, created free. --Milton.
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4. Fact; reality; -- whence we have indeed.
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5. (Law) A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or
parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some
transfer, bargain, or contract.
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Note: The term is generally applied to conveyances of real
estate, and it is the prevailing doctrine that a deed
must be signed as well as sealed, though at common law
signing was formerly not necessary.
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{Blank deed}, a printed form containing the customary legal
phraseology, with blank spaces for writing in names,
dates, boundaries, etc.
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6. Performance; -- followed by of. [Obs.] --Shak.
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{In deed}, in fact; in truth; verily. See {Indeed}.
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