deacon Hear it!

deacon definition

dea·con (kən)

noun

  1. a cleric ranking just below a priest in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches
  2. in some Protestant churches,
    1. a person in training to be a minister
    2. an officer who helps the minister in matters not having to do with worship

Etymology: ME deken < OE deacon < LL(Ec) diaconus, a servant of the church, deacon < Gr diakonos, servant, messenger (in N.T., deacon) < dia- (see dia-) + -konein, to strive < IE base *ken- > L conari, to try, W digon, can

transitive verb

  1. Informal to read (a verse) aloud before it is sung by the congregation: usually with off
  2. Slang
    1. to pack (produce) so that only the best shows
    2. to deal with deceptively

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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