\Lieu*ten"ant\ (l[-u]*t[e^]n"ant), n. [F., fr. lieu
place + tenant holding, p. pr. of tenir to hold, L. tenere.
See {Lieu}, and {Tenant}, and cf. {Locum Tenens}.]
1. An officer who supplies the place of a superior in his
   absence; a representative of, or substitute for, another
   in the performance of any duty.
         The lawful magistrate, who is the vicegerent or
         lieutenant of God.                    --Abp.
                                               Bramhall.
2.
   (a) A commissioned officer in the army, next below a
       captain.
   (b) A commissioned officer in the British navy, in rank
       next below a commander.
   (c) A commissioned officer in the United States navy, in
       rank next below a lieutenant commander.
Note: Lieutenant is often used, either adjectively or in
      hyphened compounds, to denote an officer, in rank next
      below another, especially when the duties of the higher
      officer may devolve upon the lower one; as, lieutenant
      general, or lieutenant-general; lieutenant colonel, or
      lieutenant-colonel; lieutenant governor, etc.
{Deputy lieutenant}, the title of any one of the deputies or
   assistants of the lord lieutenant of a county. [Eng.]
{Lieutenant colonel}, an army officer next in rank above
   major, and below colonel.
{Lieutenant commander}, an officer in the United States navy,
   in rank next below a commander and next above a
   lieutenant.
{Lieutenant general}. See in Vocabulary.
{Lieutenant governor}.
   (a) An officer of a State, being next in rank to the
       governor, and, in case of the death or resignation of
       the latter, himself acting as governor. [U. S.]
   (b) A deputy governor acting as the chief civil officer of
       one of several colonies under a governor general.
       [Eng.]