Deacon

7 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Deacon \Dea"con\ (d[=e]"k'n), v. t.
     1. To read aloud each line of (a psalm or hymn) before
        singing it, -- usually with off. [Colloq. New. Eng.] See
        {Line}, v. t.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     Note: The expression is derived from a former custom in the
           Congregational churches of New England. It was part of
           the office of a deacon to read aloud the psalm given
           out, one line at a time, the congregation singing each
           line as soon as read; -- called, also, lining out the
           psalm.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. With humorous reference to hypocritical posing: To pack
        (fruit or vegetables) with the finest specimens on top; to
        alter slyly the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or
        doctor (an article to be sold), etc. [Colloq., U. S.]
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Deacon \Dea"con\ (d[=e]"k'n), n. [OE. diakne, deakne, deken, AS.
     diacon, deacon, L. diaconus, fr. Gr. dia`konos a servant or
     minister, a minister of the church; of uncertain origin. In
     sense 2 prob. confused with dean.]
     1. (Eccl.) An officer in Christian churches appointed to
        perform certain subordinate duties varying in different
        communions. In the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches,
        a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry,
        subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian
        churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders,
        and has charge of certain duties connected with the
        communion service and the care of the poor. In
        Congregational churches, he is subordinate to the pastor,
        and has duties as in the Presbyterian church.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The chairman of an incorporated company. [Scot.]
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  deacon
       n 1: a Protestant layman who assists the minister [syn: {Protestant
            deacon}]
       2: a cleric ranking just below a priest in Christian churches;
          one of the Holy Orders

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  55 Moby Thesaurus words for "deacon":
     Aaronic priesthood, Bible clerk, Bible reader,
     Melchizedek priesthood, Seventy, acolyte, acolytus, almoner,
     anagnost, apostle, beadle, bedral, bishop, capitular, capitulary,
     choir chaplain, churchwarden, clerk, deaconess, diaconus,
     doorkeeper, elder, elderman, exorcist, exorcista, high priest,
     holy orders, lay elder, lay reader, lector, lecturer, major orders,
     minor orders, ostiarius, parish clerk, patriarch, precentor,
     presbyter, priest, reader, ruling elder, sacrist, sacristan,
     sexton, shames, sidesman, subdeacon, subdiaconus, succentor,
     suisse, teacher, teaching elder, thurifer, verger, vergeress
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  DEACON
       
          Direct English Access and CONtrol.  English-like query system.
          Sammet 1969, p.668.
       
       

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Deacon
     Anglicized form of the Greek word diaconos, meaning a "runner,"
     "messenger," "servant." For a long period a feeling of mutual
     jealousy had existed between the "Hebrews," or Jews proper, who
     spoke the sacred language of palestine, and the "Hellenists," or
     Jews of the Grecian speech, who had adopted the Grecian
     language, and read the Septuagint version of the Bible instead
     of the Hebrew. This jealousy early appeared in the Christian
     community. It was alleged by the Hellenists that their widows
     were overlooked in the daily distribution of alms. This spirit
     must be checked. The apostles accordingly advised the disciples
     to look out for seven men of good report, full of the Holy
     Ghost, and men of practical wisdom, who should take entire
     charge of this distribution, leaving them free to devote
     themselves entirely to the spiritual functions of their office
     (Acts 6:1-6). This was accordingly done. Seven men were chosen,
     who appear from their names to have been Hellenists. The name
     "deacon" is nowhere applied to them in the New Testament; they
     are simply called "the seven" (21:8). Their office was at first
     secular, but it afterwards became also spiritual; for among
     other qualifications they must also be "apt to teach" (1 Tim. 3:
     8-12). Both Philip and Stephen, who were of "the seven,"
     preached; they did "the work of evangelists."
     

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  DEACON, Eccl. law. A minister or servant in the church whose office, in some 
  churches, is to assist the priest in divine service, and the distribution of 
  the sacrament.