different between acolyte vs votary

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 Latin votus, past participle of vovere (“to vow, to devote”).

Adjective

votary (comparative more votary, superlative most votary)

1. Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.
   • 1625, Francis Bacon, Of Custom and Education

     Votary resolution is made equipollent to custom.

Translations

Noun

votary (plural votaries)

1. (religion) A person, such as a monk or nun, who lives a religious life according to vows they have made
2. (religion) A devotee of a particular religion or cult
3. (religion) A devout or zealous worshipper
4. Someone who is devoted to a particular pursuit etc; an enthusiast.
   • 1893, Henry James, Collaboration [1]

     He is such a votary of the modern that he was inevitably interested in the girl of the future and had matched one reform with another, being ready to marry without a penny, as the clearest way of expressing his appreciation, this favourable specimen of the type.

   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Chapter 13

     Gerty was dressed simply but with the instinctive taste of a votary of Dame Fashion for she felt that there was just a might that he might be out.

Translations

Anagrams

• travoy