usher

plural ushers · alternative huisher

1. A person, in a church, cinema etc., who escorts people to their seats.
2. A male escort at a wedding.

   Synonyms: bridesman, groomsman

3. A doorkeeper in a courtroom.
4. obsoleteAn assistant to a head teacher or schoolteacher; an assistant teacher.

   He began to learn Latin with Mr. Hawkins, usher, or under-master of Lichfield school, ‘a man (said he) very skilful in his little way.’

   1791, James Boswell, “(please specify the year)”, in James Boswell, editor, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   [H]e defrayed the expence of his entrance, and left him in the particular care and inspection of the usher, who […] though obliged by the scandalous administration of fortune to act in the character of an inferior teacher, had by his sole capacity and application, brought the school to that degree of reputation which it never could have obtained from the talents of his superior.

   1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC

5. datedderogatoryAny schoolteacher.

present singular third person ushers · participle present ushering · participle past ushered · past ushered · alternative huisher · alternative husher

1. transitiveTo guide people to their seats.

   Needless to say, one's seat must be booked in advance and a platoon of urbane officials, one to each door of the train, awaits passengers to usher them to their seats and relieve them of their bulkier baggage.

   1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 140

   1 more example

   Her entrance into church on Sunday is always the signal for a little bustle in the side aisle, occasioned by a general rise among the poor people, who bow and curtsey until the pew-opener has ushered the old lady into her accustomed seat, dropped a respectful curtsey, and shut the door;

   1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC, chapter THE CURATE. THE OLD LADY. THE HALF-PAY CAPTAIN.

2. transitiveTo accompany or escort (someone).

   [N]ay he can ſing / A meane moſt meanely, and in huſhering, / Mende him who can[.]

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], signature H2, recto

   2 more examples

   Hee brought-in likewiſe the ancient cuſtome againe, that in what moneth hee had not the Knitches of rods with Axes borne before him, a publique Officer called Accensvs ſhould huiſher him before, and the Serjeants or Lictours follow after behinde.

   1606, Caius [i.e., Gaius] Suetonius Tranquillus, “The Historie of Caius Iulius Cesar Dictator”, in Philêmon Holland, transl., The Historie of Twelve Cæsars Emperours of Rome. […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes and George Snowdon] for Matthew Lownes, →OCLC, section 20, page 8

   Margaret was astonished at the magnificence of the apartments into which she was ushered.

   1898, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic, page 509

3. figurativelytransitiveTo precede; to act as a forerunner or herald.

   Thus the Harvard poets and wits ushered The New England Courant out of existence.

   1912, Elizabeth Christine Cook, Literary Influences in Colonial Newspapers, 1704-1750, page 31

4. figurativelytransitiveTo lead or guide somewhere.

   McCoist unexpectedly ushered back a defender of his own with Kirk Broadfoot taking over from Steven Whittaker. There was, of course, another change, Kyle Bartley stepping in at centre-half to replace suspended Dorin Goian.

   2011 December 29, Keith Jackson, “SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0”, in Daily Record

plural Ushers

1. countableuncountableA surname originating as an occupation for an usher.
2. countableuncountableA suburb of Bunbury, Western Australia.