Deputer

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Someone who selects another person to act on their behalf or carry out a particular task
2. A person who designates a substitute or representative to perform duties in their place
3. One who assigns authority to another individual so that the second may act for the first

Etymology: "Deputer" is formed from "depute" with the agent suffix "-er", so it names one who deputes, that is, one who sends someone else to act in their place. The base verb "depute" comes from Old French "deputer", from Latin "deputare", meaning to allot, assign, or reckon, which is also the source of "depute" in its sense of appointing a representative. The suffix does most of the work here: "-er" attaches to the verb to name the person or thing doing the action. The resulting word is a straightforward formation rather than a coinage with a notable story, and its meaning follows directly from the parts it is built from.