deacon

== English == === Etymology === Inherited from Middle English deken, dekne, from Old English diacon, from Ecclesiastical Latin diāconus, from Ancient Greek διᾱ́κονος (diā́konos, “servant, minister”). === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: dea‧con enPR: dē'k(ə)n, IPA(key): /ˈdiːkən/ Rhymes: -iːkən === Noun === deacon (plural deacons) (early Christianity) A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6). (Christianity, by extension) 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. (Catholicism, Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Church of the East) A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work. (Anglicanism) An ordained clergyperson usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon. (Evangelicalism) A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor. (Methodism) A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate. (Freemasonry) A junior lodge officer. (Mormonism) The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts. (US, animal husbandry) A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below). (Scotland) The chairman of an incorporated company. ==== Hypernyms ==== (various religious senses): cleric ==== Hyponyms ==== (Catholic): permanent deacon, transitional deacon ==== Coordinate terms ==== deaconess (various religious senses): abbé, canon ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== diaconal diaconate ==== Translations ==== === See also === deacon on Wikipedia.Wikipedia diaconate === Verb === deacon (third-person singular simple present deacons, present participle deaconing, simple past and past participle deaconed) (transitive, ecclesiastical) To ordain to the diaconate. 1869, George Bennett, The History of Bandon, and the Principal Towns in the West Riding of County Cork, Francis Guy, page 518: He was deaconed on the 23rd May, and priested on the 29th September, 1624, by John, Bishop of Sodar and Man. (Christianity, music) For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir. (US, animal husbandry) To kill a calf shortly after birth. (US, slang) To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath. (US, slang) To make sly alterations to the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc. === Anagrams === Canedo, Cedano, acnode, canoed