deacon

plural deacons

1. early ChristianityA designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
2. A modern-day member of a church who handles secular and/or administrative duties in a priest's stead, the specifics of which depends on denomination.
   1. broadlyEastern Orthodoxy; Oriental Orthodoxy; Church of the East; Eastern Orthodoxy; Oriental Orthodoxy; Church of the EastCatholicismA clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.
   2. broadlyAnglicanismChristianityAn ordained clergyperson usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.
   3. broadlyEvangelicalismChristianityA lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.
   4. broadlyMethodismChristianityA separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.
   5. broadlyChristianityA junior lodge officer.
   6. MormonismbroadlyChristianityThe lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.
3. USanimal husbandryA male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below).
4. ScotlandThe chairman of an incorporated company.

present singular third person deacons · participle present deaconing · participle past deaconed · past deaconed

1. transitiveecclesiasticalTo ordain to the diaconate.

   Chapman was a lay missionary and was not deaconed until 1844 and priested in 1852.

   1992, Allan Davidson, Donald D. Hook, “New Zealand's Prayer Book”, in Anglican and Episcopal History, 61.3, pages 247-251

   2 more examples

   He was deaconed on the 23rd May, and priested on the 29th September, 1624, by John, Bishop of Sodar and Man.

   1869, George Bennett, The History of Bandon, and the Principal Towns in the West Riding of County Cork, Francis Guy, page 518

   Thus, Samuel Seabury... was deaconed by the Bishop of Lincoln and priested by the Bishop of Carlisle.

   2013, Gregory K. Cameron, “Locating the Anglican Communion in the History of Anglicanism”, in The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to the Anglican Communion, page 3

2. ChristianityFor a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir.
3. USanimal husbandryTo kill a calf shortly after birth.
4. USslangTo place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath.

   The blanc mange was lumpy, and the strawberries not as ripe as they looked, having been skilfully 'deaconed'.

   1868, Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

   1 more example

   It's like buying a barrel of apples that's been deaconed — after you've found that the deeper you go the meaner and wormier the fruit, you forget all about the layer of big, rosy, wax-finished pippins that was on top.

   1902, George Horace Lorimer, Old Gorgon Graham

5. USslangTo make sly alterations to the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc.

plural Deacons · alternative Deakin

1. A surname originating as an occupation.
2. rareA male given name from English.

   1 more example

   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.

   1997, Toni Morrison, Paradise, Random House, published 2010, →ISBN, page 55