deacon
To ordain to the diaconateTo ordain to the diaconate.
» Tom is a deacon in his church.
Meaning
5 senses(transitive)To ordain to the diaconate.
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)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.
Examples
11 sentencesTom is a deacon in his church.
I got a call from a deacon in your church.
Tom is a deacon.
Tom is the deacon.
Tom was a deacon.
Origin
Inherited from Middle English deken, dekne, from Old English diacon, from Ecclesiastical LInherited from Middle English deken, dekne, from Old English diacon, from Ecclesiastical Latin diāconus, from Ancient Greek διᾱ́κονος (diā́konos, “servant, minister”).
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Forms
deacons, deaconing, deaconed, deaconedLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle