deacon

dea-con · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (Christianity) An ordained minister ranking below a priest in various Christian churches.

  2. 2.

    (in some Protestant churches) A lay officer who assists the minister.

  3. 3.

    A male given name or surname.

Forms

plural: deacons

Related words

See also: clergy, minister, priest
Synonyms: clergyman, minister

Etymology

From Old English diacon, from Latin diaconus, from Greek diakonos meaning "servant" or "minister." The word originally referred to a servant or attendant, later specialized to mean a church officer.