deacon

A church minister below a priest who helps with services and other church work.

• The deacon helped during the service.
• She was ordained as a deacon last year.
• Our parish has two deacons who visit sick people.

Common phrases: ordain a deacon, parish deacon, serve as deacon

A male calf from a dairy breed, traditionally killed soon after birth.

• The farmer called the male calf a deacon.
• A newborn deacon lay beside the dairy cow.
• The old farm records list several deacons sold that spring.

Similar words: bull calf

Common phrases: newborn deacon, deacon calf, sell a deacon

The person who leads an incorporated company.

• The company elected a new deacon.
• Its deacon chaired the annual meeting.
• The deacon signed the documents for the incorporated company.

Similar words: chairman, chair

Common phrases: company deacon, elect a deacon, deacon of something

A person chosen in the early Christian church to organize help for people in need.

• The deacon distributed food to widows.
• Early deacons helped care for poor members of the church.
• The community chose a deacon to organize charitable work.

Common phrases: early church deacon, appoint a deacon, deacon serving widows

To officially make someone a church minister of the rank below priest.

• The bishop will deacon him on Sunday.
• She was deaconed before joining the parish.
• They deaconed two candidates during the service.

Similar words: ordain as a deacon

Common phrases: deacon someone, deacon a candidate

To kill a calf soon after it is born.

• The farmer used to deacon male calves.
• The calf was deaconed soon after birth.
• That old dairy practice involved deaconing unwanted calves.

Similar words: slaughter

Common phrases: deacon a calf, deacon newborn calves

To put good fruit on top of a container to hide poor or rotten fruit underneath.

• The seller deaconed the barrel of apples.
• He was caught deaconing fruit before the market opened.
• They deacon the crates to hide bruised fruit underneath.

Common phrases: deacon a barrel, deacon the apples

To secretly change land boundaries or goods for sale in order to cheat someone.

• He deaconed the boundaries to enlarge his field.
• The merchant deaconed the goods before offering them for sale.
• They accused him of deaconing the property line.

Similar words: doctor, tamper with

Common phrases: deacon the boundaries, deacon the goods