archdeacon

noun

arch·​dea·​con (ˌ)ärch-ˈdē-kən 

: a clergyman having the duty of assisting a diocesan bishop in ceremonial functions or administrative work

Examples of archdeacon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When Flynn died, new owners brought in an archdeacon for an onboard exorcism. —Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022

Keith Cartwright, archdeacon of the Diocese of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, officiated. —New York Times, 6 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English archedeken, from Old English arcediacon, from Late Latin archidiaconus, from Late Greek archidiakonos, from Greek archi- + diakonos deacon

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

archdeacon

noun

arch·​dea·​con (ˈ)ärch-ˈdē-kən 

: a church official who assists a bishop