deed

Meaning

Noun

1. An action or act; something that is done.
2. A brave or noteworthy action; a feat or exploit.
3. Action or fact, as opposed to rhetoric or deliberation.
4. A legal instrument that is executed under seal or before a witness; sometimes required for certain legal activities, such as the transfer of certain kinds of property.
5. A legal instrument that is executed under seal or before a witness; sometimes required for certain legal activities, such as the transfer of certain kinds of property.

Verb

To transfer real property by deed.

Concepts

deed

act

action

work

doing

document

feat

exploit

behaviour

achievement

performance

conduct

bond

certificate

behavior

contract

activity

movement

ways

record

bill

title

paper

human action

human activity

deed of conveyance

title deed

move

writing

actions

deeds

habit

habits

movements

works

doings

task

step

effort

accomplishment

work done

do

proceeding

effect

deportment

manner of life

manners

way

occurrence

agreement

done

matter

thing

law

karma

warrant

gesture

wave

basis

evidence

one’s doing

asceticism

escapade

venture

transfer

convey

issue

concern

report

proceedings

action event

action job

opus

tour de force

practice

process

transaction

indenture

escrow

bargaining

charter

instrument

trick

affair

God

agreeable

good

mitzvah

to

appointment

billet

chore

employ

office

post

prowess

circumstances

situation

things

impact

proof of ownership

benefaction

beneficence

good action

stunt

undertaking

ticket

word

business

occupation

operation

procedure

running

documentation

manuscript

papers

legal document

decree

order

legislation

rule

case

chance

event

happening

incident

instance

occasion

execution

job

commit

make

dead

Pronounced as (IPA)

/diːd/

Etymology

From Middle English dede, from Old English dēd, dǣd (“deed, act”), from Proto-West Germanic *dādi, from Proto-Germanic *dēdiz (“deed”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁tis (“deed, action”). Analyzable through Proto-Germanic as do + -th. Doublet of thesis.
The real estate sense derives from the fact that property deeds are traditionally used to demonstrate proof of ownership of a legal title in common law jurisdictions, such as England & Wales and most of the United States.
Cognates:
Cognate with West Frisian died, Dutch daad (“deed, act”), German Low German Daad, German Tat (“deed, action”), Swedish, Norwegian and Danish dåd (“act, action”). The Proto-Indo-European root is also the source of Ancient Greek θέσις (thésis, “setting, arrangement”).