deacon

Meanings

Plural: deacons

Noun

• a Protestant layman who assists the minister
• a cleric ranking just below a priest in Christian churches; one of the Holy Orders
• A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
• 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.
• A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.
• An ordained clergyperson usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.
• A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.
• A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.
• A junior lodge officer.
• The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.
• A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below).
• The chairman of an incorporated company.

Verb

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

Synonyms

Protestant deacon

Related Words

diaconal, diaconate