usher

[ uhsh-er ]

/ ˈʌʃ ər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR usher ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who escorts people to seats in a theater, church, etc.

a person acting as an official doorkeeper, as in a courtroom or legislative chamber.

a male attendant of a bridegroom at a wedding.

an officer whose business it is to introduce strangers or to walk before a person of rank.

British Archaic. a subordinate teacher or an assistant in a school.

verb (used with object)

to act as an usher to; lead, introduce, or conduct: She ushered them to their seats.

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)

to act as an usher: He ushered at the banquet.

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Origin of usher

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; see -er²

OTHER WORDS FROM usher

ush·er·ship, nounun·der·ush·er, nounun·ush·ered, adjective

Words nearby usher

uses, usha, ushabti, ushant, ushas, usher, usher's syndrome, usherette, ushki, ushuaia, usia

Definition for usher (2 of 3)

Usher

[ uhsh-er ]

/ ˈʌʃ ər /

noun

James. Ussher, James.

Definition for usher (3 of 3)

Ussher

or Ush·er

[ uhsh-er ]

/ ˈʌʃ ər /

noun

James,1581–1656, Irish prelate and scholar.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for usher

It would be tempting, at this point, to say that the Internet will corrode religious authority and usher in the Great Secular Age.
God vs. the Internet. And the Winner is…|Michael Schulson|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This huge transfer, the researchers believe, will usher in what they call “a golden age of philanthropy.”
Trustafarians Want to Tell You How to Live|Joel Kotkin|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and new kid on the block, Iggy Azalea were discovered by Akon, Usher, and T.I., respectively.
From Public Enemy to Power Broker: Hip-Hop’s the New Global Pop Culture|Lauren DeLisa Coleman|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The usher is from the Bismarck Food Service, wearing a blue Bismarck jersey, carrying a Bismarck bucket filled with soft drinks.
Elmore Leonard’s Rocky Road to Fame and Fortune|Mike Lupica|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The middle of August is supposed to usher in the dog days of summer.
Hey, Eric Holder: Voter ID Isn't Stuck in 1965|Ron Christie|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were to be allowed to usher in the glorious day by the blowing of horns exactly at sunrise.
The Peterkin Papers|Lucretia P Hale
I was quite absorbed in the beautiful anthems of the service, when an usher told me some one wished to speak with me.
Memoirs To Illustrate The History Of My Time|Franois Pierre Guillaume Guizot
The added insult came when he was compelled to usher Philip to a waiting room.
The King of Diamonds|Louis Tracy
He then became a schoolmaster,—or perhaps I had better say usher,—and finally he took orders.
An Autobiography|Anthony Trollope
Alongside the revolutionary trade unions were workers' armed organizations ready to usher in the new order by force.
A History of Trade Unionism in the United States|Selig Perlman

British Dictionary definitions for usher (1 of 3)

usher

/ (ˈʌʃə) /

noun

an official who shows people to their seats, as in a church or theatre

a person who acts as doorkeeper, esp in a court of law

(in England) a minor official charged with maintaining order in a court of law

an officer responsible for preceding persons of rank in a procession or introducing strangers at formal functions

British obsolete a teacher

verb (tr)

to conduct or escort, esp in a courteous or obsequious way

(usually foll by in) to be a precursor or herald (of)

Word Origin for usher

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

British Dictionary definitions for usher (2 of 3)

Usher

/ (ˈʌʃə) /

noun

a variant spelling of (James) Ussher

British Dictionary definitions for usher (3 of 3)

Ussher

Usher

/ (ˈʌʃə) /

noun

James. 1581–1656, Irish prelate and scholar. His system of biblical chronology, which dated the creation at 4004 bc, was for long accepted

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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