subdiaconate

[ suhb-dahy-ak-uh-nit, -neyt ]

noun

1. the office or dignity of a subdeacon.
2. a body of subdeacons.

subdiaconate

/ ˌsʌbdaɪˈækənɪt; -ˌneɪt /

noun

1. the rank or office of a subdeacon

Derived Forms

• ˌsubdiˈaconal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of subdiaconate¹

First recorded in 1715–25; sub- + diaconate

Word History and Origins

Origin of subdiaconate¹

C18: from Medieval Latin subdiaconus subdeacon + -ate ²; see deacon

Example Sentences

An advance was made on Lanfranc’s legislation on clerical marriage; married priests and deacons were now ordered to put away their wives, an order which, as we have seen, was widely disregarded; no married man was to be admitted to the subdiaconate; tithes were not to be paid except to churches, and several decrees were made for the maintenance, dress, and general conduct of the clergy.

From Project Gutenberg

Having first swept away all the minor Orders and the Subdiaconate, the new form carefully and systematically excluded every word that could be interpreted to mean that the candidate was ordained to be a sacrificing priest.

From Project Gutenberg

Privileges for Maynooth.—In reply to a petition from the Irish Episcopate, the Holy Father, through the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, has granted to the Superiors of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, the privilege of presenting students for ordination to the Diaconate and Subdiaconate on days which are ordinary doubles.

From Project Gutenberg

The responsible position in which he was thus placed seems to have shaken for a time his persuasion that he had a true vocation for the priesthood; but after consultation with a friend who knew him well, his doubts vanished, and on the eve of Trinity Sunday in this same year he was admitted to the subdiaconate.

From Project Gutenberg

It is indeed true that on account of lack of ministers of God in the primitive Church married men were admitted to the priesthood, as is clear from the Apostolic Canons and the reply of Paphnutius in the Council of Nice; nevertheless, those who wished to contract marriage were compelled to do so before receiving the subdiaconate, as we read in the canon Si quis corum Dist.

From Project Gutenberg