deaconess
|dee-kuh-nes|
/ˈdiːkənəs/
female church minister / female deacon
Etymology
'deaconess' originates from Modern English, formed from the noun 'deacon' plus the feminine suffix '-ess' (from French '-esse' ultimately from Latin), where 'deacon' comes from Greek 'diakonos' meaning 'servant' or 'minister'.
'deacon' entered English via Late Latin 'diaconus' (from Greek 'diakonos'); Middle English forms such as 'decon' or 'deken' led to the modern English 'deacon', and the feminine formation 'deaconess' developed in Modern English by adding the suffix '-ess'.
Initially tied closely to the Greek sense of 'servant' or 'minister' (diakonos), the word came to denote specifically a female church officer with certain pastoral or charitable duties; in modern usage the term's application and frequency vary by denomination (some now use 'deacon' for both sexes).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a woman appointed in some Christian churches to perform duties similar to those of a deacon, especially pastoral, charitable, or liturgical work.
She served as a deaconess at the local church, organizing outreach programs for the elderly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
historically, a woman in the early church appointed to assist with the care of other women and charitable tasks; the term is sometimes used to refer to such historical roles.
In early Christian communities the role of the deaconess often included visiting sick women and helping with baptisms.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/08 02:17