usher

¹

[ uhsh-er ]

noun

1. a person who escorts people to seats in a theater, church, etc.
2. a person acting as an official doorkeeper, as in a courtroom or legislative chamber.
3. a male attendant of a bridegroom at a wedding.
4. an officer whose business it is to introduce strangers or to walk before a person of rank.
5. British Archaic. a subordinate teacher or an assistant in a school.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as an usher to; lead, introduce, or conduct:

   She ushered them to their seats.

2. to attend or bring at the coming or beginning; precede or herald (usually followed by in ):

   to usher in the new theater season.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as an usher:

   He ushered at the banquet.

Usher

²

[ uhsh-er ]

noun

1. James. Ussher, James.

usher

¹

/ ˈʌʃə /

noun

1. an official who shows people to their seats, as in a church or theatre
2. a person who acts as doorkeeper, esp in a court of law
3. (in England) a minor official charged with maintaining order in a court of law
4. an officer responsible for preceding persons of rank in a procession or introducing strangers at formal functions
5. obsolete.
   a teacher

verb

1. to conduct or escort, esp in a courteous or obsequious way
2. usually foll by in to be a precursor or herald (of)

Usher

²

/ ˈʌʃə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of (James) Ussher

Other Words From

• usher·ship noun
• under·usher noun
• un·ushered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of usher¹

1350–1400; Middle English uscher doorkeeper < Anglo-French usser, Old French ( h ) uissier doorman, officer of justice < Vulgar Latin *ustiārius, equivalent to Latin ōsti ( um ) door + -ārius -ary; -er ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of usher¹

C14: from Old French huissier doorkeeper, from Vulgar Latin ustiārius (unattested), from Latin ostium door

Example Sentences

And the days in which a director, even Alfred Hitchcock, can get him for a million are gone the way of the sweet-tempered usher.

From The Daily Beast

It would be tempting, at this point, to say that the Internet will corrode religious authority and usher in the Great Secular Age.

From The Daily Beast

This huge transfer, the researchers believe, will usher in what they call “a golden age of philanthropy.”

From The Daily Beast

Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and new kid on the block, Iggy Azalea were discovered by Akon, Usher, and T.I., respectively.

From The Daily Beast

The usher is from the Bismarck Food Service, wearing a blue Bismarck jersey, carrying a Bismarck bucket filled with soft drinks.

From The Daily Beast

In the description of “The House of Usher,” position emphasizes the barely perceptible fissure.

From Project Gutenberg

Is Usher described at all when Poe says, “I gazed upon him with a feeling half of pity, half of awe”?

From Project Gutenberg

With the dear Dominie's note promising to be an usher came an antique silver casket filled with white heather.

From Project Gutenberg

The usher signed to Heriot to advance, and the honest citizen was presently introduced into the cabinet of the Sovereign.

From Project Gutenberg

Usher was present at the execution of Strafford, and ministered to him in his last moments.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• escort
• initiate
• precede
• steer