usher
verbEtymology From Middle English ussher, uscher, usscher, from Anglo-Norman usser and Old French ussier, uissier (“porter, doorman”) (compare French huissier), from Vulgar Latin *ustiārius (“doorkeeper”), from Latin ōstiārius, from ōstium (“door”). Akin to ōs (“mouth”). Probably a doublet of ostiary and huissier.
1
To guide people to their seats.
- Her entrance into church on Sunday is always the signal for a little bustle in the side aisle, occasioned by a general rise among the poor people, who bow and curtsey until the pew-opener has ushered the old lady into her accustomed seat, dropped a respectful curtsey, and shut the door;1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC, chapter THE CURATE. THE OLD LADY. THE HALF-PAY CAPTAIN.:
- Needless to say, one's seat must be booked in advance and a platoon of urbane officials, one to each door of the train, awaits passengers to usher them to their seats and relieve them of their bulkier baggage.1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 140:
2
To accompany or escort (someone).
- [N]ay he can ſing / A meane moſt meanely, and in huſhering, / Mende him who can[.]c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], signature H2, recto:
- Hee brought-in likewiſe the ancient cuſtome againe, that in what moneth hee had not the Knitches of rods with Axes borne before him, a publique Officer called Accensvs ſhould huiſher him before, and the Serjeants or Lictours follow after behinde.1606, Caius [i.e., Gaius] Suetonius Tranquillus, “The Historie of Caius Iulius Cesar Dictator”, in Philêmon Holland, transl., The Historie of Twelve Cæsars Emperours of Rome. […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes and George Snowdon] for Matthew Lownes, →OCLC, section 20, page 8:
1 more example
- Margaret was astonished at the magnificence of the apartments into which she was ushered.1898, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic, page 509:
3
Figuratively To precede; to act as a forerunner or herald.
- Thus the Harvard poets and wits ushered The New England Courant out of existence.1912, Elizabeth Christine Cook, Literary Influences in Colonial Newspapers, 1704-1750, page 31:
4
Figuratively To lead or guide somewhere.
- McCoist unexpectedly ushered back a defender of his own with Kirk Broadfoot taking over from Steven Whittaker. There was, of course, another change, Kyle Bartley stepping in at centre-half to replace suspended Dorin Goian.2011 December 29, Keith Jackson, “SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0”, in Daily Record:
- Derived terms
- usher in