acolyte
nounUK /ˈæk.ə.laɪt/ · CA, US /ˈæk.ə.laɪt/
Etymology From Middle English acolite, acolit, from Old French acolyt and Late Latin acolythus, from Ancient Greek ἀκόλουθος (akólouthos, “follower, attendant”).
1
Christianity One who has received the highest of the four minor orders in the Catholic Church, being ordained to carry the wine, water and lights at Mass.
2
Christianity An altar server.
- The kneeling acolyte chimed a sacring-bell, and the congregation bent and swayed like a wheat-field swept scross by sudden wind.1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 27:
3
An attendant, assistant, or follower.
- “Apparently, one of Milius's acolytes spends a lot of time at the top of that huge, dangerous mountain. Better get climbing.” “(groans) Oh.”2024 October 31, Stephanie Amante-Ritter, “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” (8:16 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 5, episode 3, spoken by Jack Ransom (Jerry O'Connell):
- Synonyms
- sidekick
- Derived terms
- acolytate, acolyteship, Macolyte