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deaconess

[ dee-kuh-nis ]

noun

  1. (in certain Protestant churches) a woman belonging to an order or sisterhood dedicated to the care of the sick or poor or who is engaging in other social-service duties, as teaching or missionary work.
  2. a woman elected by a church to assist the clergy.


deaconess

/ ˈdiːkənɪs /

noun

  1. Christianity (in the early church and in some modern Churches) a female member of the laity with duties similar to those of a deacon
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Gender Note

See -ess.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of deaconess1

1530–40; earlier deaconisse, part translation, part adoption of Late Latin diāconissa, feminine of diāconus deacon; -ess
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Example Sentences

Colts grew horses, beards turned gray, Deacon and deaconess dropped away, Children and grandchildren—where were they!

Still later the superintendent told me that she was a deaconess in New York, and was doing a great work.

"There he is," said the deaconess, pointing to an enormously tall man standing in the darkest and remotest corner of the hall.

The deaconess rose, pressed a kiss on the eyes of the dead youth, promised Eusebius that she would do her best and went away.

She would have joined a Deaconess' Institution but she did not care to leave her father.

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