acolyte

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ac=o=lyte

CIDE DICTIONARY

acolyte, n. [LL. acolythus, acoluthus, Gr. following, attending: cf. F. acolyte.].

•  One who has received the highest of the four minor orders in the Catholic church, being ordained to carry the wine and water and the lights at the Mass.  [1913 Webster]
•  One who attends; an assistant.  Motley.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

acolyte, n.
1 a person assisting a priest in a service or procession.
2 an assistant; a beginner.

Etymology

ME f. OF acolyt or eccl.L acolytus f. Gk akolouthos follower

THESAURUS

acolyte

Bible clerk, Bible reader, acolytus, adjutant, agent, aid, aide, aide-de-camp, aider, almoner, anagnost, assistant, attendant, auxiliary, beadle, bedral, best man, capitular, capitulary, choir chaplain, churchwarden, clerk, coadjutant, coadjutor, coadjutress, coadjutrix, deacon, deaconess, deputy, diaconus, doorkeeper, elder, elderman, executive officer, exorcist, exorcista, help, helper, helpmate, helpmeet, holy orders, lay elder, lay reader, lector, lecturer, lieutenant, major orders, minor orders, ostiarius, paranymph, paraprofessional, parish clerk, precentor, presbyter, priest, reader, ruling elder, sacrist, sacristan, second, servant, sexton, shames, sideman, sidesman, subdeacon, subdiaconus, succentor, suisse, supporting actor, supporting instrumentalist, teaching elder, thurifer, verger, vergeress

ROGET THESAURUS

acolyte

Clergy

N clergy, clericals, ministry, priesthood, presbytery, the cloth, the desk, clergyman, divine, ecclesiastic, churchman, priest, presbyter, hierophant, pastor, shepherd, minister, father, father in Christ, padre, abbe, cure, patriarch, reverend, black coat, confessor, dignitaries of the church, ecclesiarch, hierarch, ebdomarius, eminence, reverence, elder, primate, metropolitan, archbishop, bishop, prelate, diocesan, suffragan, dean, subdean, archdeacon, prebendary, canon, rural dean, rector, parson, vicar, perpetual curate, residentiary, beneficiary, incumbent, chaplain, curate, deacon, deaconess, preacher, reader, lecturer, capitular, missionary, propagandist, Jesuit, revivalist, field preacher, churchwarden, sidesman, clerk, precentor, choir, almoner, suisse, verger, beadle, sexton, sacristan, acolyth, acolothyst, acolyte, altar boy, chorister, Pope, Papa, pontiff, high priest, cardinal, ancient flamen, flamen, confessor, penitentiary, spiritual director, cenobite, conventual, abbot, prior, monk, friar, lay brother, beadsman, mendicant, pilgrim, palmer, canon regular, canon secular, Franciscan, Friars minor, Minorites, Observant, Capuchin, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, Gilbertine, Austin Friars, Black Friars, White Friars, Gray Friars, Crossed Friars, Crutched Friars, Bonhomme, Carthusian, Benedictine, Cistercian, Trappist, Cluniac, Premonstatensian, Maturine, Templar, Hospitaler, Bernardine, Lorettine, pillarist, stylite, abbess, prioress, canoness, religieuse, nun, novice, postulant, prophet, priest, high priest, Levite, Rabbi, Rabbin, Rebbe, scribe, mullah, muezzin, ayatollah, ulema, imaum, imam, sheik, sufi, kahin, kassis, mufti, hadji, dervish, fakir, faquir, brahmin, guru, kaziaskier, poonghie, sanyasi, druid, bonze, santon, abdal, Lama, talapoin, caloyer, the Reverend, the very Reverend, the Right Reverend, ordained, in orders, called to the ministry.