different between acolyte vs archdeacon

English

Etymology

Late Middle English, from Old French acolyt and Late Latin acolythus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (akólouthos, “follower, attendant”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?æ.k?.la?t/

Noun

acolyte (plural acolytes)

1. (Christianity) One who has received the highest of the four minor orders in the Catholic Church, being ordained to carry the wine, water and lights at Mass.
2. (Christianity) An altar server.
3. An attendant, assistant or follower.

Synonyms

(assistant): sidekick

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “acolyte”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• cotylae

French

Alternative forms

• acolythe (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old French acolyt, from Ecclesiastical Latin acolytus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (akólouthos, “follower, attendant”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.k?.lit/

Noun

acolyte m (plural acolytes)

1. (religion) acolyte
2. henchman, sidekick

Further reading

• “acolyte” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From arch- +? deacon, or Late Latin archidiaconus.

Noun

archdeacon (plural archdeacons)

1. (ecclesiastical) In the Anglican and Eastern Orthodox systems, a senior administrative official in a diocese, just under the bishop, often in charge of an archdeaconry. As a title, it can be filled by either a deacon or priest.

Derived terms

• archdeaconry
• archdeaconship

Related terms

• archidiaconal

Translations