deacon
see also: Deacon
Pronunciation
  • enPR: dē'k(ə)n, IPA: /ˈdiːkən/
Noun

deacon (plural deacons)

  1. (Church history) A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
  2. (Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism) A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.
  3. (Protestantism) Free Churches: A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.
  4. (Protestantism) Anglicanism: An ordained clergyman usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.
  5. (Protestantism) Methodism: A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.
  6. (freemasonry) A junior lodge officer.
  7. (Mormonism) The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.
  8. (US, animal husbandry) A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below).
  9. (Scotland) The chairman of an incorporated company.
Related terms Translations Translations Translations Verb

deacon (deacons, present participle deaconing; past and past participle deaconed)

  1. (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.
  2. (US, animal husbandry) To kill a calf shortly after birth.
  3. (US, slang) To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath.
  4. (US, slang) To make sly alterations to the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc.

Deacon
Proper noun
  1. Surname
  2. (rare) A male given name.
    • 1997, Toni Morrison, Paradise, Random House 2010 ISBN 9781407065243, page 55
      And like a mirror image in gestures if not in looks, Steward spit fresh Blue Boy while Deek lit a cigar. However disgusted both were, K.D. knew they would not negotiate a solution that would endanger him or the future of Morgan money. His grandfather had named his twins Deacon and Steward for a reason.



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