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An officer in Christian churches appointed to perform certain subordinate duties varying in different communions. In the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and e…

A female deacon; as:

The state of being a deacon; office of a deacon; deaconship.

See Deaconship.

The office or ministry of a deacon or deaconess.

In England, an ecclesiastical dignitary, next in rank below a bishop, whom he assists, and by whom he is appointed, though with independent authority. Blackstone.

The district, office, or residence of an archdeacon. See Benefice. Every diocese is divided into archdeaconries. Blackstone.

The office of an archdeacon.

One belonging to an order in the Roman Catholic Church, next interior to the order of deacons; also, a member of a minor order in the Greek Church.

The order or office of subdeacon.

Of or pertaining to an archdeacon. This offense is liable to be censured in an archidiaconal visitation. Johnson.

Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of. If a suit be begun before an archdeacon. Ayliffe.

A subdeacon who bears a cross before an archbishop or primate on solemn occasions.

A vestment with wide sleeves, and with two stripes, worn at Mass by deacons, and by bishops at pontifical Mass; -- imitated from a dress originally worn in Dalmatia.

ade with. "Dealing with witches." Shak. (b) To reprove solemnly; to expostulate with. The deacons of his church, who, to use their own phrase, "dealt with him" on the sin of rejecting the aid which Providence so manifestly held out. Hawthorne. Return . . . and I will deal well with thee. Gen. xxxii. 9.…

The territorial jurisdiction of a dean. Each archdeaconry is divided into rural deaneries, and each deanery is divided into parishes. Blackstone.

Of or pertaining to a deacon.

The office of a deacon; deaconship; also, a body or board of deacons.

Making contrary declarations on the same subject; deceitful. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued. 1 Tim. iii. 8.

its bishops from the monastic clergy only, recognizes the offices of bishop, priest, and deacon as the three necessary degrees of orders, venerates relics and icons, and has an elaborate ritual.