n. 1. a. A commissioned rank in the US Navy or Coast Guard that is above lieutenant junior grade and below lieutenant commander. b. A first lieutenant. c. A second lieutenant. d. One who holds any of these ranks or a similar rank in another military organization. 2. (lĕf-tĕnənt) A commissioned officer in the British and Canadian navies ranking just below a lieutenant commander. 3. An officer in a police or fire department ranking below a captain. 4. One who acts in place of or represents a superior; an assistant or deputy: the organized crime figure and his lieutenants. [Middle English, deputy, from Old French : lieu, place; see LIEU + tenant, present participle of tenir, to hold (from Latin tenēre; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] lieu·tenan·cy n. |
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