Deed, n.
Etymology: [AS. d; akin to OS. dad, D. & Dan. daad, G. thai, Sw. dåd, Goth. d; 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. And Joseph said to them, What deed is this which ye have done Gen. xliv. 15. We receive the due reward of our deeds. Luke xxiii. 41. Would serve his kind in deed and word. Tennyson.
2. Illustrious act; achievement; exploit. "Knightly deeds." Spenser. Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn. Dryden.
3. Power of action; agency; efficiency. [Obs.] To be, both will and deed, created free. Milton.
4. Fact; reality; -- whence we have indeed.
4 more senses
5. (Law)
A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or contract.
Note: 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. Blank deed, a printed form containing the customary legal phraseology, with blank spaces for writing in names, dates, boundaries, etc.
6. Performance; -- followed by of. [Obs.] Shak. In deed, in fact; in truth; verily. See Indeed.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Deed, a.
Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Deed, v. t.
To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his estate to his eldest son. [Colloq. U. S.]
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for deed; he lists it under act, transaction, work.
Where he writes about it:
An act is strictly and originally something accomplished by an exercise of power, in which sense it is synonymous with deed or effect. — from act
Act and deed are both used for the thing done, but act refers to the power put forth, deed to the result accomplished; as, a voluntary act, a bad deed. — from act
As between act and deed, deed is commonly used of great, notable, and impressive acts, as are achievement, exploit, and feat. — from act
An exploit is a conspicuous or glorious deed, involving valor or heroism, usually combined with strength, skill, loftiness of thought, and readiness of resource; an achievement is the doing of something great and noteworthy; an exploit is brilliant, but its effect may be transient; an achievement is solid, and its effect enduring. — from act