acolyte

[ ak-uh-lahyt ]

noun

1. an altar attendant in public worship.
2. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. a member of the highest-ranking of the four minor orders.
   2. the order itself. Compare exorcist ( def 2 ), lector ( def 2 ), ostiary ( def 1 ).
3. any attendant, assistant, or follower.

acolyte

/ ˈækəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a follower or attendant
2. Christianity an officer who attends or assists a priest

Word History and Origins

Origin of acolyte¹

1275–1325; Middle English acolite < Medieval Latin acolytus < Greek akólouthos follower, attendant, equivalent to a- prefix denoting association + -kolouthos, variant of kéleuthos road, journey

Word History and Origins

Origin of acolyte¹

C16: via Old French and Medieval Latin from Greek akolouthos a follower

Example Sentences

Why do you think you were “an asperg-y movie fan…a jabbering repellent acolyte?”

From The Daily Beast

Still, the tradition of a hero with a younger, or everyman, acolyte stretches back to antiquity.

From The Daily Beast

One of these heroes is an insect-loving contemporary of Charles Darwin, the other a crocodile-wrestling Steve Irwin acolyte.

From The Daily Beast

Yee was, as Brown writes, a Brown acolyte at one point, representing a district of middle class single-family homeowners.

From The Daily Beast

Then, like a true BuzzFeeder acolyte, he added: “This story will blow over as soon as the Kardashians have a new kid.”

From The Daily Beast

He was an acolyte sent forth with bowl and staff to beg for aid in certain temple repairs.

From Project Gutenberg

That the acolyte in Claude's case took the form of Louis Gentilis made him no more welcome.

From Project Gutenberg

The parish priest sat with his acolyte, who held a crucifix before his eyes so that his thoughts might not wander.

From Project Gutenberg

So from this you can see how nobly that young acolyte was provided with all that beseemed his future greatness.

From Project Gutenberg

After sermon the preacher returns to the altar, when a fourth functionary appears, whom we suppose must be termed an acolyte.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• follower