deed
/diːd
/noun
1chiefly literary An action that is performed intentionally or consciously: doing good deeds...
- Her kind nature was ever to the fore and she performed many good deeds in her own quiet manner.
- The Executive has made a virtue of preaching the need for reform without accompanying those words with deeds.
- But some, who saw what took place, said: From where does this child spring, since his every word is an accomplished deed?
Synonyms
act, action, activity;
feat, exploit, performance, achievement, accomplishment, attainment, endeavour, effort;
undertaking, enterprise
1.1A brave or noble act: their deeds will live on in song...
- The heroic deeds of this brave and noble Irishman have brought honour and glory to his native Annascaul and West Kerry
- Our hearts swell with pride, and our thoughts drift to memories of fallen friends, brave deeds, and the proud legions who have gone before.
- For Kass, the sting of death makes for stronger friendships, greater loves, more ardent learning, and nobler deeds.
1.2 [mass noun] Action or performance: she had erred in both deed and manner...
- In the evening, crowds attend Ramalila, dramatic performances recounting Rama's deeds.
- For I am sure that even for this humble deed, I deserve a lot more than credit.
2 (often deeds) A legal document that is signed and delivered, especially one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights: mortgage deeds...See also title deed.
- Minors can't sign deeds or other legal documents, and they aren't allowed to receive money once the property is sold.
- Store original documents, property deeds and birth certificates in a bank safe deposit box.
- Normally when lending money on the security of a mortgage, a mortgagee will take the deeds to the property away from the estate owner in order to prevent him dealing further with the property.
Synonyms
legal document, contract, legal agreement, indenture, instrument;
title deed, deed of covenant
verb [with object] North American
Convey or transfer (property or rights) by legal deed: they deeded their property to their children...
- In 1954 Rodia packed up his few belongings, deeded his property to his neighbor, Louis H. Saucedo, and walked away, never to return.
- Bonny Doon produces fine cypress, rather than fine wine, because The Nature Conservancy bought the property in 1989 and deeded it to the state as an ecological reserve.
- The place is the Dakota territory, whose black hills were deeded by treaty to the Sioux.
Origin
Old English dēd, dǣd, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch daad and German Tat, from an Indo-European root shared by do1.