usher

Meaning

Noun

1. A person, in a church, cinema etc., who escorts people to their seats.
2. A male escort at a wedding.
3. A doorkeeper in a courtroom.
4. (obsolete) An assistant to a head teacher or schoolteacher; an assistant teacher.
5. Any schoolteacher.

Verb

1. To guide people to their seats.
2. To accompany or escort (someone).
3. To precede; to act as a forerunner or herald.
4. To lead or guide somewhere.

Synonyms

guide

doorkeeper

escort

show

accompany

beadle

lead

apparitor

usherette

verger

direct

bring in

conduct

bailiff

porter

introduce

mentor

govern

go with

hall porter

head

import

induct

initiate

insert

institute

instruct

janitor

lawman

law officer

march

navigate

pilot

🧑‍✈️

prelude

redirect

refer

route

semaphore

show the way

squire

starboard

steer

steward

stewardess

supervise

tutor

door guard

give directions

guide on

peace officer

stage direct

box keeper

admit

bouncer

brief

channel

chaperon

commissionaire

companion

concierge

control

convey

counsel

door-keeper

doorman

draw rein

drive

enter

Hyphenated as

ush‧er

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈʌʃəɹ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: ussher

Cognate with French: huissier

In summary

From Middle English ussher, uscher, usscher, from Anglo-Norman usser and Old French ussier, uissier (“porter, doorman”) (compare French huissier), from Vulgar Latin *ustiārius (“doorkeeper”), from Latin ōstiārius, from ōstium (“door”). Akin to ōs (“mouth”). Probably a doublet of ostiary and huissier.