Meanings
nounacolyte (plural acolytes)
plural acolytes
- ChristianityAn altar server.
The kneeling acolyte chimed a sacring-bell, and the congregation bent and swayed like a wheat-field swept scross by sudden wind.
1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 27 - An attendant, assistant, or follower.
“Apparently, one of Milius's acolytes spends a lot of time at the top of that huge, dangerous mountain. Better get climbing.” “(groans) Oh.”
2024 October 31, Stephanie Amante-Ritter, “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” (8:16 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 5, episode 3, spoken by Jack Ransom (Jerry O'Connell)Synonyms: sidekick
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn attendant, assistant, or follower.
Similar
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀκόλουθος“follower, attendant”
- Late Latinacolythus
- Old Frenchacolyt
- Middle Englishacolite
- Englishacolyte
From Middle English acolite, acolit, from Old French acolyt and Late Latin acolythus, from Ancient Greek ἀκόλουθος (akólouthos, “follower, attendant”).
More words from Middle English, Old French, Late Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan acòlit
- acòlitCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Dutch acoliet, helper
- acolietCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- helperin general: assistant
Esperanto akolito
- akolitoCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Finnish akolyytti, apulainen
- akolyyttiCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- apulainenin general: assistant
- avustajain general: assistant
- apuriin general: assistant
French acolyte, acolyte
- acolyteCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- acolytein general: assistant
German Akolyth, Gehilfe
- AkolythCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- Gehilfein general: assistant
Greek ακόλουθος, βοηθός
- ακόλουθος (akólouthos)Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- βοηθός (voïthós)in general: assistant
Hungarian akolitus
- akolitusCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Indonesian akolit
- akolitCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Irish acalaí, túiseoir
- acalaíCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- túiseoirCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Italian accolito
- accolitoCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Malay akolit
- akolitCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Norwegian assistent
- assistentin general: assistant
Polish akolita, akolitka
- akolitaCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- akolitkaCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- akolitain general: assistant
- akolitkain general: assistant
Portuguese acólito, acólito
- acólitoCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- acólitoin general: assistant
- assistentein general: assistant
- ajudantein general: assistant
Spanish acólito, acólito
- acólitoCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- acólitoin general: assistant
Tagalog monasilyo, munisilyo
- monasilyoCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- munisilyoCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- sakristanCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
- akolitoCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Turkish rahip yardımcısı
- rahip yardımcısıCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Vietnamese chú giúp lễ
- chú giúp lễCatholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass
Cite this entry
APA
acolyte. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acolyte
MLA
“acolyte.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acolyte. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acolyte,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acolyte.
Source: acolyte on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.