deputize

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree English deputy Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English deputize From deputy + -ize.

1. To officially empower, authorize, pronounce, and establish (someone) to be a deputy.
2. to officially empower and authorize (someone) to act as a substitute in one's role or office

   “I deputize you to act for me while I'm away.”

3. To act as a substitute for a person in their role or office

   “Gringoire, on the other hand, stuck with equal firmness to the fact that he was deputizing for a brother officer who was sick — so sick that he had mislaid his orders.”

   “What he wanted was someone who could really deputize for him when he was away on business – clearly not the job for a secretary but, because of years of experience and a willingness to take responsibility, one that the previous holder of the post had taken on.”