acolyte

noun

ac·o·lyte ˈa-kə-ˌlīt How to pronounce acolyte (audio)

-kō-

: one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties

: one who attends or assists a leader : follower

The mayor dined with a few of his acolytes.

Did you know?

Follow the etymological path of acolyte back far enough and you'll arrive at kéleuthos, a Greek noun that means "path" and that is itself the parent of akólouthos, an adjective that means "following." Akólouthos traveled from Greek, leaving offspring in Medieval Latin and Anglo-French; its English descendant, acolyte, emerged in the 14th century. Originally, acolyte was exclusively a term for a person who assisted a priest at Mass, but by the 19th century, the word had acquired additional meanings, among them "attendant body, satellite" (a meaning used in astronomy) and "attendant insect" (a zoological sense), as well as the general meaning "assistant" or "sidekick."

Example Sentences

a popular professor dining with a few of her acolytes a highly influential economist whose acolytes can be found at many major universities

Recent Examples on the Web Vargas, an instant Rekke acolyte, is transferred to another department.

Tom Nolan, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Baker-hating Trump acolyte Jim Lyons and his wild crew.

BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 Last season, Smart joined Fisher as the only Saban acolyte to win a national title.

Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2022 On Tuesday night, Cheney, as expected, was shellacked in the Republican primary for Wyoming’s at-large congressional seat by Trump acolyte Harriet Hageman.

Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 17 Aug. 2022 Hutchinson’s testimony painted a consistent and unflattering portrait of Meadows, the former congressman turned Trump acolyte who left the House to become chief of staff.

Jacqueline Alemany, Washington Post, 29 June 2022 Most political observers would tell you that the GOP’s chances of swinging this socially conservative district are better against Cisneros, a young acolyte of democratic socialist Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Gilbert Garcia, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Apr. 2022 Many eyes will also be fixed on Georgia's GOP secretary of state primary, where Republican Rep. Jody Hice, another Trump acolyte, looks to unseat current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Editors, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 Cassidy remains an ardent Sutter acolyte, often crediting him as one of his top mentors and coaching model.

Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 21 May 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acolite, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French acolit, borrowed from Medieval Latin acolūthus, acolythus, acolitus, going back to Late Latin, "person assisting the priest," borrowed from Middle Greek akólouthos, going back to Greek, "following, (as noun) follower, attendant," from a- (variant, before a following aspirate consonant, of ha- "having one, having the same," going back to Indo-European sm̥-) + -kolouthos (ablaut form, in a compound, of kéleuthos "path"); akin to Greek heîs "one," homós "same" and perhaps to Greek keleúein "to direct forward, urge on" — more at same entry 1, hold entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

单词	acolytes
释义	acolyte noun ac·o·lyte ˈa-kə-ˌlīt -kō- 1 : one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties 2 : one who attends or assists a leader : follower The mayor dined with a few of his acolytes. Did you know? Follow the etymological path of acolyte back far enough and you'll arrive at kéleuthos, a Greek noun that means "path" and that is itself the parent of akólouthos, an adjective that means "following." Akólouthos traveled from Greek, leaving offspring in Medieval Latin and Anglo-French; its English descendant, acolyte, emerged in the 14th century. Originally, acolyte was exclusively a term for a person who assisted a priest at Mass, but by the 19th century, the word had acquired additional meanings, among them "attendant body, satellite" (a meaning used in astronomy) and "attendant insect" (a zoological sense), as well as the general meaning "assistant" or "sidekick." Synonyms adherent convert disciple epigone follower liege man partisan partizan pupil votarist votary See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences a popular professor dining with a few of her acolytes a highly influential economist whose acolytes can be found at many major universities Recent Examples on the Web Vargas, an instant Rekke acolyte, is transferred to another department. Tom Nolan, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Baker-hating Trump acolyte Jim Lyons and his wild crew. BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 Last season, Smart joined Fisher as the only Saban acolyte to win a national title. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2022 On Tuesday night, Cheney, as expected, was shellacked in the Republican primary for Wyoming’s at-large congressional seat by Trump acolyte Harriet Hageman. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 17 Aug. 2022 Hutchinson’s testimony painted a consistent and unflattering portrait of Meadows, the former congressman turned Trump acolyte who left the House to become chief of staff. Jacqueline Alemany, Washington Post, 29 June 2022 Most political observers would tell you that the GOP’s chances of swinging this socially conservative district are better against Cisneros, a young acolyte of democratic socialist Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Gilbert Garcia, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Apr. 2022 Many eyes will also be fixed on Georgia's GOP secretary of state primary, where Republican Rep. Jody Hice, another Trump acolyte, looks to unseat current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Editors, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 Cassidy remains an ardent Sutter acolyte, often crediting him as one of his top mentors and coaching model. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 21 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English acolite, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French acolit, borrowed from Medieval Latin acolūthus, acolythus, acolitus, going back to Late Latin, "person assisting the priest," borrowed from Middle Greek akólouthos, going back to Greek, "following, (as noun) follower, attendant," from a- (variant, before a following aspirate consonant, of ha- "having one, having the same," going back to Indo-European sm̥-) + -kolouthos (ablaut form, in a compound, of kéleuthos "path"); akin to Greek heîs "one," homós "same" and perhaps to Greek keleúein "to direct forward, urge on" — more at same entry 1, hold entry 1 First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 acolytes noun plural of acolyte as in adherents one who follows the opinions or teachings of another a highly influential economist whose acolytes can be found at many major universities Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance adherents followers disciples devotees supporters apostles votaries partisans missionaries epigones students admirers pupils scholars soldiers partizans protégés converts advocates loyalists proselytizers cultists sycophants fans faithfuls votarists worshippers liege men zealots minions worshipers ideologists toadies myrmidons lackeys ideologues sectarians henchmen champions apparatchiks enthusiasts flunkeys flunkies idealogues lickspittles stooges idolators backers hangers-on idolaters satellites apparatchiki yes-men camp followers Antonyms & Near Antonyms leaders traitors defectors turncoats renegades apostates coryphaei See More
随便看	close-hauled close-herd close-in close-in weapons system close-knit close-lipped close-minded close-quarter close-quartered close-reefed close-rounded close-set close-tongued close-up close-ups close/dear/near to one's heart close/hard/hot on someone's or something's heels close/seal the deal close/tight finish closeable closecross closed closed (down) closed (off) closed account

acolyte

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun