deacon Hear it!

deacon Definition

dea·con (dē′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

deacon Synonyms

deacon

n.

elder, vicar, church officer; see minister 1.

deacon Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • ordain: Also ordained deacon on Sunday 2nd July, the Revd.
  • become: He continued to sing at his local church, where, following in his father's footsteps, he became deacon.
  • call: Only two of the men are mentioned elsewhere in Scripture ( Stephen and Philip ), but they are nowhere called deacons.
  • make: Later on he was made senior deacon, a post he held till his death in 1923.
  • appoint: Bishops and deacons have succeeded to bishops and deacons appointed by the Apostles ( 44 ).
  • martyr: A deacon martyred in all probability in Seville in Spain.

Converse of subject

  • assist: He was assisted by two permanent deacons of the Aberdeen Diocese, the Revs.

Adjective modifier

  • permanent: Within a few years, in some countries, the first new permanent deacons were ordained.
  • local: Local deacons are expected to attend all CME provision arranged by the Co-ordinator, including the residential Training Week.
  • new: Ten new priests and nine new deacons will be ordained, the largest such service for a long time.
  • female: It may be talking about requirements on the wives of deacons, and it may be talking about requirements on the female deacons.
  • first: Within a few years, in some countries, the first new permanent deacons were ordained.
  • young: But one night a young deacon rose and began reading from Psalm 24, " Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?

Noun used with modifier

  • woman: The Orthodox Church is discussing the possibility of restoring the order of women deacons, who once ministered in the early church.
  • word: How is the word deacon used in the New Testament?

Possessives

  • order: Athanasius, tho only in deacon's order, must have taken no subordinate part in these events.

Preposition: in

  • church: Nothing indicates that he was a deacon in the church.
  • work: I feel more comfortable as a deacon in work than I do as a deacon in church as the moment.

Preposition: of

  • church: A MOST UNLIKELY EVANGELIST In May 1855, an eighteen-year-old boy went to the deacons of a church in Boston.