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Chief \chief\, adj.

  1. Highest in office or rank; principal; head.
    "Chief rulers." --John. xii. 42
  2. Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of man
  3. Very intimate, near, or close. [Obs.]
"A whisperer separateth chief friends." --Prov. xvi 28
[syn: principal; head; leading; main; paramount; supreme; prime; vital; especial; great; grand; eminent; master]

Chief \chief\ (ch[=e]n), n. [OE. chief, chef, OF. chief, F chef, fr. L. caput head, possibly akin to E. head. Cf captain, chapter]

  1. The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who directs the work of others; the principal actor or agent
  2. The principal part; the most valuable portion
    "The chief of the things which should be utterly destroyed." --1 Sam. xv 21
  3. (Her.) The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs (a) At the head; as, a commander in chief (b) (Eng. Law) From the king, or sovereign; as, tenure in chief, tenure directly from the king [syn: chieftain; captain; general; commander; leader; head; principal; sachem; sagamore; sheik]

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