Deacon definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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Definitions (19)

American Heritage Dictionary (3)

noun A cleric ranking just below a priest in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches.
noun A Protestant layperson who assists the minister in various functions.
noun Used as a title prefixed to the surname of such a person: Deacon Brown.

Century Dictionary (12)

Eccles., one of a body of men, either forming an order of the ministry or serving merely as elected officers of individual churches, whose chief duty is to assist a presbyter, priest, or other clergyman, especially in administering the eucharist and in the care of the poor. In the apostolic church, one of an order of ministers or church-officers, inferior to apostles and presbyters, whose duty it was to serve at the Lord's Supper, or agape, and to minister alms to the poor. It is generally believed that the institution of this office is recorded in Acts vi. 1-6, where, although the word deacon (διάκονος, minister) is not used of the seven persons appointed, the corresponding words “to minister or serve” (διακονει%148ν) and “ministration” (διακονία) are employed. By an analogy with the Mosaic hierarchy, St. Clement of Rome in the apostolic age called the deacons Levites, and this use of the word Levite long remained frequent. In the early Christian church, one of the third order of the ministry, of lower rank than bishops and presbyters. The deacons applied complete nnction to men in preparation for baptism, but anointed women on the forehead only, assisted the celebrant at the eucharist, read the gospel and made proclamations during the liturgy, maintained order in the congregation, and cared for the poor and sick. Those attached to episcopal sees acted as the bishop's adjutants, messengers, and representatives, and when belonging to a great patriarchal or metropolitan see possessed much influence. Hence— In the Greek Church, one of the third order of the ministry, similar in rank and duties to the officer of the same name in the early church. In the Roman Catholic Church, a member of the third order of the ministry. He assists the priest throughout the celebration of the eucharist or mass, and reads the gospel. The principal assistant to the celebrant at a solemn celebration is called the deacon, and vested accordingly, whether in deacon's, priest's, or bishop's orders. In the Anglican Church, a member of the third order of the ministry. His duties are to assist the priest in divine service, especially at the holy communion, help in distributing the elements to the people, read the Scriptures, especially the eucharistic gospel, catechize, baptize infants in the absence of the priest, preach if licensed by the bishop, and seek out the sick and poor and make their wants known to the curate. Deacons cannot consecrate the eucharist, pronounce absolution, or give benediction. The bishop, priest, or deacon who acts as principal assistant at the holy communion is called the deacon or gospeler. In the Methodist Episcopal Church, a member of an order of the ministry next below that of elder. The deacons are elected by the annual conference, are ordained by the bishop, and are authorized to assist in the administration of the eucharist, to administer the rites of baptism and marriage, and to perform the duties of a traveling preacher. In the Baptist and Congregational churches, one of two or more officers elected by each church to distribute the elements in the communion after they have been consecrated by the minister, and to act as the advisers of the pastor and as the almoners of the charities of the church. In the Presbyterian Church, one of a number of officers elected by a congregation and ordained by the minister to assist the session in the care of the poor and in the general management of the secular affairs of the church. Deacons are not always appointed, their place being sometimes supplied by the elders. In the Lutheran Church in the United States, one of a number of laymen chosen to attend to the charities and temporalities of a congregation. With an equal number of elders and the pastor, the deacons constitute the council of each church to manage its temporal and spiritual affairs. In the Mormon Church, a subordinate official who acts as an assistant to the teacher, but has no authority to baptize or administer the sacrament. Mormon Catechism, xvii.
In Scotland, the president of an incorporated trade, who is the chairman of its meetings and signs its records. Before the passing of the Burgh Reform Act the deacons of the crafts or incorporated trades in royal burghs formed a constituent part of the town council, and were understood to represent the trades, as distinguished from the merchants and guild brethren. The deacon-convener of the trades in Edinburgh and Glasgow still continues to be a constituent member of the town council.
[Allusion not clear.] A green salted hide or skin weighing less than 8 pounds.

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The stern old deacon was aiming straight for their pew CHAPTER VIII INTRODUCTIONS Oh, goodness to gracious! — The Corner House Girls at School
As the deacon never said any harm of anybody, and as the deacon's wife never thought any harm, and as the wee widow woman never felt any harm, the cat would lie stretched out on the hearth all day while these three good people talked But though the deacon was good, and his wife was better, yet the deacon's oldest son was not the boy he ought to have been. — Queer Stories for Boys and Girls
The deacon's wife grew sick, and the vile, vinegar-tongued, vixenish virago said that the deacon was an old brute. — Queer Stories for Boys and Girls
I said the deacon was the one to ask, 'n' we hunted high 'n' low for him until Mrs. Jilkins remembered 's he'd took them keys Mrs. White always had under her pillow 'n' gone up attic to see what trunks they fitted. — Susan Clegg and Her Neighbors' Affairs
All but the deacon, that is. — Susan Clegg and Her Neighbors' Affairs

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Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

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presbyter · pastor · vicar · rector · clergyman · subdeacon · cleric · schoolmaster · chaplain · parson · warden · layman

Etymologies (3)

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

Middle English deken, from Old English dīacon, from Late Latin diāconus, perhaps from Greek diākonos, attendant, minister.

Century Dictionary (2)

Early modern English also deken; from Middle English deken, dekyn, decon, deacon, diacne, deakne, from Anglo-Saxon deácon, diácon = Dutch deken, diaken = Middle Low German diaken = German diakon, diaconus = Icelandic djākn, djākni, a deacon, = Danish degn, a parish clerk, = Swedish djekne, a scholar (Danish Swedish diakonus, deacon), = Old French diacne, diacre, French diacre = Provencal diacre, diague = Spanish diácono = Portuguese Italian diacono, from Late Latin diaconus = Goth, diakaunus, a deacon, from Greek διάκονος, a servant, waitingman, messenger, ecclesiastical a deacon; of uncertain origin; perhaps related to διώκειν, pursue, cause to run. The Teutonic forms appear to have been in part confused with the forms belonging to L. decanus, a dean (see dean), and with those belonging with G. degen, etc., Anglo-Saxon thegn, English thane (see thane).
from deacon, n.

deacon

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