deacon

  1. Noun.  (context, Church history) A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
  2. Noun.  (Roman Catholicism) A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.
  3. Noun.  (Protestantism) A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.
  4. Noun.  (freemasonry) A junior Lodge officer.
  5. Noun.  (Mormonism) The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.
  6. Noun.  (US, animal husbandry) A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below).
  7. Verb.  (Christianity, music) For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir.
  8. Verb.  (US, animal husbandry) To kill a calf shortly after birth.
  9. Verb.  (US) To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.