deacon

Meaning

Noun

1. A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
2. (broadly) A modern-day member of a church who handles secular and/or administrative duties in a priest's stead, the specifics of which depends on denomination.
3. A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.
4. An ordained clergyperson usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.
5. A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.
6. A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.
7. A junior lodge officer.
8. (Mormonism) The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.
9. (US) A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below).
10. (Scotland) The chairman of an incorporated company.

Verb

1. For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir.
2. (US) To kill a calf shortly after birth.
3. (US, slang) To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath.
4. (US, slang) To make sly alterations to the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc.

Synonyms

Protestant deacon

catechist

elder

server

steward

teacher

🧑‍🏫

church officer

court official

banded cichlid

convict fish

deacon off

butler

seventh grade

Translations

diacre

diacono

Diakon

diácono

diaca

diaken

diácono

διάκονος

diyakoz

diaconus

شماس

diaconesse

göz boyamak

Hofmeister

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdiːkən/

Etymology

Inherited from Old English: diacon

In summary

Inherited from Middle English deken, dekne, from Old English diacon, from Ecclesiastical Latin diāconus, from Ancient Greek διᾱ́κονος (diā́konos, “servant, minister”).