释义 |
dea·con I. \ˈdēkən sometimes -kəŋ\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English dekne, dekene, from Old English dīacon, dēacon, from Late Latin diaconus, from Greek diakonos diēkonos, literally, servant, from dia-, diē- (alteration of dia-) + -konos (akin to Greek enkonein to be active in service); akin to Latin conari to attempt — more at dia- 1. : a subordinate officer in a Christian church: as a. Roman Catholicism (1) : a cleric in major orders ranking above a subdeacon and below a priest and having as a principal function close assistance of the celebrant at solemn High Mass and other solemn services (2) : one serving as a deacon at solemn High Mass or other solemn services b. Anglicanism : one in orders next below that of priest and now usually a candidate for ordination to the priesthood c. Congregationalism : a layman having some duties similar to those of a ruling elder in Presbyterian churches d. Lutheranism (1) : a layman in an office subordinate to that of pastor and elder (2) : an assistant minister of a church in which there are several ministers e. Mormonism : one ordained to the lowest grade of the Aaronic priesthood who serves as assistant to the teacher 2. Scotland a. : the president of an incorporated trade or craft b. : a proficient workman : master 3. : one of two officers in a Masonic lodge < senior deacon > < junior deacon > 4. : a young calf especially when too young for veal; also : the hide from such a calf II. transitive verb (deaconed ; deaconed ; deaconing \-k(ə)niŋ\ ; deacons) 1. [so called from the former custom in New England Congregational churches of a deacon's reading aloud each line of a hymn before it was sung by the congregation] : to read aloud each line of before singing (a psalm or hymn) 2. : to practice sly deception with usually short of illegality 3. a. : to pack (fruit or vegetables) with the finest specimens on top b. : to alter the boundaries of (land) c. : to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold) 4. : to kill (a calf) at or very soon after birth |