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deacon

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The definition of a deacon is a member of the Catholic church who is in the position just below priest.

(noun)

An example of a deacon is the person who oversees church charities.

See deacon in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a cleric ranking just below a priest in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches
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

Origin: 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

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

See deacon in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

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

Origin:

Origin: Middle English deken

Origin: , from Old English dīacon

Origin: , from Late Latin diāconus

Origin: , perhaps from Greek diākonos, attendant, minister

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