dĕcānus, i, m. [decem]. I.A chief of ten, one set over ten persons (late Lat.). A. Over soldiers, Veg. Mil. 2, 8.—B. Over monks, a dean, Hier. Ep. 22, no. 35.—C.The chief of the corpse-bearers, Cod. Just. 1, 2, 4; 9.—D. As a judge, Vulg. Exod. 18, 21; Deut. 1, 15.—II.A kind of officer at the imperial court, Cod. 12, 27, 1.—III. In astrology, the chief of ten parts of a zodiacal sign, Firm. Math. 2, 4.