archdeacon

[ ahrch-dee-kuhn ]

noun

1. an ecclesiastic, ranking next below a bishop and having charge of the temporal and external administration of a diocese, with jurisdiction delegated from the bishop.
2. Roman Catholic Church. a title of honor conferred only on a member of a cathedral chapter.

archdeacon

/ ˈɑːtʃˈdiːkən /

noun

1. an Anglican clergyman ranking just below a bishop and having supervisory duties under the bishop
2. a clergyman of similar rank in other Churches

Other Words From

• archdeacon·ate archdeacon·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of archdeacon¹

before 1000; Middle English archideken, Old English arcediacon < Late Latin archidiāconus < Greek archidiā́konos. See arch- ¹, deacon

Example Sentences

By the age of 24, Laval was ordained a priest; he was quickly named an archdeacon and eventually a bishop.

From Salon

Mina Smallman, the former Church of England archdeacon whose daughters Nicole and Bibaa were murdered in a London park, will examine support for victims of crime and look into the Reclaim These Streets movement.

From BBC

The investigation into Fr Griffin began because an official in the Anglican Diocese of London suggested to his archdeacon that he undertake a "brain dump" of information he had acquired before his retirement.

From BBC

He suggested to his archdeacon that he undertake a "brain dump" of information he had acquired over the preceding two decades.

From BBC

She was proud of her mother Mina, who gave up office work to train as a teacher and later joined the priesthood, becoming the Church of England's first black female archdeacon.

From BBC

Related Words

• bishop
• pastor