sexton

¹

[ sek-stuhn ]

noun

1. an official of a church charged with taking care of the edifice and its contents, ringing the bell, etc., and sometimes with burying the dead.
2. an official who maintains a synagogue and its religious articles, chants the designated portion of the Torah on prescribed days, and assists the cantor in conducting services on festivals.

Sexton

²

[ sek-stuhn ]

noun

1. Anne (Harvey), 1928–74, U.S. poet.

sexton

/ ˈsɛkstən /

noun

1. a person employed to act as caretaker of a church and its contents and graveyard, and often also as bell-ringer, gravedigger, etc
2. See burying beetle
   another name for the burying beetle

Other Words From

• sexton·ship noun
• under·sexton noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sexton¹

1275–1325; Middle English sexteyn, sekesteyn, syncopated variant of segerstane, secristeyn < Anglo-French segerstaine sacristan

Word History and Origins

Origin of sexton¹

C14: from Old French secrestein, from Medieval Latin sacristānus sacristan

Example Sentences

Sexton’s empathetic story explores the lives and losses of both Cruz and Simpson.

From ProPublica

Last September, Sexton pleaded guilty in New York state court to money laundering and agreed to forfeit $600,000.

From The Daily Beast

Cast: Blair Underwood, Pablo Schrieber, Spencer Grammer, Neal Bledsoe, Brent Sexton.

From The Daily Beast

The sexton was soon found and he was delighted to point out the interesting objects in the church and vicinity.

From Project Gutenberg

In the morning to church, where at the door of our pew I was fain to stay, because that the sexton had not opened the door.

From Project Gutenberg

When he left the chamber of death, it was to walk across the quadrangle of the residence to the sexton's house.

From Project Gutenberg

East of Taylor's bridge, towards Sexton's Junction, there is an extensive swamp, but westward the country is rolling.

From Project Gutenberg

Stormed they with shout and yell, Not wise they sang nor well, Drowning the sexton's bell,While all the church wondered.

From Project Gutenberg