deacon

[ dee-kuhn ]
See synonyms for: deacondeaconeddeaconing on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. (in hierarchical churches) a member of the clerical order next below that of a priest.

  2. (in other churches) an appointed or elected officer having variously defined duties.

  1. (in Freemasonry) either of two officers in a masonic lodge.

verb (used with object)
  1. to pack (vegetables or fruit) with only the finest pieces or the most attractive sides visible.

  2. to falsify (something); doctor.

  1. to castrate (a pig or other animal).

  2. to read aloud (a line of a psalm, hymn, etc.) before singing it.

Origin of deacon

1
before 900; Middle English deken,Old English diacon<Late Latin diāconus<Greek diā́konos servant, minister, deacon, equivalent to diā-dia- + -konos service

Other words from deacon

  • dea·con·ship, noun
  • un·der·dea·con, noun

Words Nearby deacon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use deacon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for deacon

deacon

/ (ˈdiːkən) /


nounChristianity
  1. (in the Roman Catholic and other episcopal churches) an ordained minister ranking immediately below a priest

  2. (in Protestant churches) a lay official appointed or elected to assist the minister, esp in secular affairs

  1. Scot the president of an incorporated trade or body of craftsmen in a burgh

Origin of deacon

1
Old English, ultimately from Greek diakonos servant

Other words from deacon

  • Related adjective: diaconal

Derived forms of deacon

  • deaconship, noun

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