deed

n. [ AS. d&aemacr_;d; akin to OS. dād, D. & Dan. daad, G. that, Sw. dåd, Goth. dēds; fr. the root of do. See Do, v. t. ] 1. That which is done or effected by a responsible agent; an act; an action; a thing done; -- a word of extensive application, including, whatever is done, good or bad, great or small. [ 1913 Webster ]

And Joseph said to them, What deed is this which ye have done? Gen. xliv. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

We receive the due reward of our deeds. Luke xxiii. 41. [ 1913 Webster ]

Would serve his kind in deed and word. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Illustrious act; achievement; exploit. “Knightly deeds.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Power of action; agency; efficiency. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To be, both will and deed, created free. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fact; reality; -- whence we have indeed. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or contract. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term is generally applied to conveyances of real estate, and it is the prevailing doctrine that a deed must be signed as well as sealed, though at common law signing was formerly not necessary. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blank deed, a printed form containing the customary legal phraseology, with blank spaces for writing in names, dates, boundaries, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Performance; -- followed by of. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In deed, in fact; in truth; verily. See Indeed. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his estate to his eldest son. [ Colloq. U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of deeds or exploits; active; stirring. [ R. ] “A deedful life.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits; inactive. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deedless in his tongue. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Law) A deed of one part, or executed by only one party, and distinguished from an indenture by having the edge of the parchment or paper cut even, or polled as it was anciently termed, instead of being indented. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Religion) performance of moral or religious acts; salvation is not by deeds, but by faith; to do good deeds.
Syn. -- works. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]