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Dictionary Language resources

archdeacon

Syllabification: (arch·dea·con)

Pronunciation: /ˌärCHˈdēkən/

Definition of archdeacon

noun

a senior Christian cleric (in the early Church a deacon, in the modern Anglican church a priest) to whom a bishop delegates certain responsibilities.

Origin:

Old English arce-, ercediacon, from ecclesiastical Latin archidiaconus, from ecclesiastical Greek arkhidiakonos, from arkhi- 'chief' + diakonos (see deacon)