lieutenant

lieu·ten·ant

noun \-ˈte-nənt\

Definition of LIEUTENANT

1

a : an official empowered to act for a higher official b : an aide or representative of another in the performance of duty : assistant

2

a (1) : first lieutenant (2) : second lieutenant b : a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard ranking above a lieutenant junior grade and below a lieutenant commander c : a fire or police department officer ranking below a captain

Examples of LIEUTENANT

1. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
2. She has her best lieutenants working on a proposal.
3. one of the mobster's most loyal lieutenants

Origin of LIEUTENANT

Middle English, from Anglo-French lieu tenant, from liu + tenant holding, from tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre — more at thin

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to LIEUTENANT

Synonyms: adjunct, adjutant, aid, aide, apprentice, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, helpmate, helpmeet, helper, mate, sidekick

Related Words: attendant, handmaiden (also handmaid), maid, maidservant, scullion, servant; auxiliary, legman, subordinate, underling; employee (also employe), hand, help, hireling, laborer, swamper, worker; gal Friday, girl Friday; man Friday, right hand; aide-de-camp

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Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with LIEUTENANT

se tenant, subtenant