subdeacon

S1U1B3D2E1A1C3O1N1

noun

A Catholic clerical rank in the major orders below that of a deacon.

Similar
hypodeacon
OriginMiddle English subdecon ← Late Latin subdiāconus →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounsubdeacon (plural subdeacons)

plural subdeacons

  1. historicalCatholicismA Catholic clerical rank in the major orders below that of a deacon.
  2. historicalCatholicismA Catholic cleric who assists the deacon at High Mass and normally reads the Epistle at the Eucharist.
  3. AnglicanismA layperson who acts as an assistant to the deacon during the celebration of mass.
  4. Eastern OrthodoxyThe highest of the minor orders below that of a deacon.

    Synonyms: hypodeacon

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe highest of the minor orders below that of a deacon.

Similar
hypodeacon
Also see
hypodeacon

Origin

  1. Late Latinsubdiāconus
  2. Middle Englishsubdecon
  3. Englishsubdeacon

Originated 1275–1325 from Middle English subdecon and -dekene, from Late Latin subdiāconus. Equivalent to sub- + deacon.

More words from Middle English, Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish alidiakoni, alidiakoni
  • alidiakonicleric who assists the deacon at High Mass
  • alidiakonicleric below a deacon
French sous-diacre
  • sous-diacrecleric below a deacon
German Subdiakon
  • Subdiakoncleric below a deacon
Irish fodheagánach
  • fodheagánachcleric below a deacon
Italian suddiacono
  • suddiaconocleric below a deacon
Polish subdiakon, subdiakon
  • subdiakoncleric who assists the deacon at High Mass
  • subdiakoncleric below a deacon
Portuguese subdiácono
  • subdiáconocleric below a deacon
Romanian subdiacon
  • subdiaconcleric below a deacon
Russian иподья́кон, иподиа́кон
  • иподья́кон (ipodʹjákon)cleric below a deacon
  • иподиа́кон (ipodiákon)cleric below a deacon
Spanish subdiácono
  • subdiáconocleric below a deacon
Vietnamese phụ phó tế, trợ phó tế
  • phụ phó tếcleric below a deacon
  • trợ phó tếcleric below a deacon
  • thầy nămcleric below a deacon

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

casebound
Cite this entry
APA

subdeacon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subdeacon

MLA

“subdeacon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subdeacon. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subdeacon,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subdeacon.

Source: subdeacon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.