a member of the highest-ranking of the four minor orders.
the order itself.Compare exorcist (def. 2), lector (def. 2), ostiary (def. 1).
any attendant, assistant, or follower.
Origin of acolyte
1275–1325; Middle English acolite<Medieval Latin acolytus<Greek akólouthos follower, attendant, equivalent to a- prefix denoting association + -kolouthos, variant of kéleuthos road, journey
Words nearby acolyte
acoelomate, acoelous, acoenaesthesia, Acol, acold, acolyte, Acoma, Aconcagua, aconite, aconitine, Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, A
Leach went 84-43 in 10 seasons as head coach at Texas Tech and 55-47 in eight seasons at Washington State, both relatively less heralded programs, and many of his and Mumme’s former players and assistants also became air raid acolytes.
Is The SEC Ready For The Air Raid? Mike Leach Sure Thinks So.|Jake Lourim|September 30, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Still, the tradition of a hero with a younger, or everyman, acolyte stretches back to antiquity.
Holy Homophobia, Batman! A Queer Reading of the Dark Knight|Rich Goldstein|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of these heroes is an insect-loving contemporary of Charles Darwin, the other a crocodile-wrestling Steve Irwin acolyte.
Exploring the Amazon, While We Still Can|Darrell Hartman|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yee was, as Brown writes, a Brown acolyte at one point, representing a district of middle class single-family homeowners.
The Gun-Running Senator Leland Yee|David Freedlander|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Truthiness is as truthiness does, and clearly: Acolyte Oren does truthiness very, very well.
Michael Oren's Truthiness|Emily L. Hauser|March 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In the meantime, he serves as an acolyte at Grace Episcopal Church, and has had the honor of carrying the cross.
Message to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan: America’s Greater Than Ever|Michael Daly|August 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The acolyte was very agile in a short red cassock, below which his naked legs, and bare feet showed.
White Shadows in the South Seas|Frederick O'Brien
There was the acolyte, very pale and sorrowful, beneath the trees.
Japanese Fairy Tales|Grace James
After sermon the preacher returns to the altar, when a fourth functionary appears, whom we suppose must be termed an acolyte.
The Church Index|William Pepperell
Pat Murphy, his faithful servant and acolyte, was watching for him just within the door.
The Higher Court|Mary Stewart Daggett
From the small door beside the chapel came a priest and his acolyte, a choir boy.
The Mercenary|W. J. Eccott
British Dictionary definitions for acolyte
acolyte
/ (ˈækəˌlaɪt) /
noun
a follower or attendant
Christianityan officer who attends or assists a priest
Word Origin for acolyte
C16: via Old French and Medieval Latin from Greek akolouthos a follower