deaconess
[ dee-kuh-nis ]
/ ˈdi kə nɪs /
noun
(in certain Protestant churches) a woman belonging to an order or sisterhood dedicated to the care of the sick or poor or who is engaging in other social-service duties, as teaching or missionary work.
a woman elected by a church to assist the clergy.
Origin of deaconess
usage note for deaconess
See
-ess.
Words nearby deaconess
deaccession,
deacetylate,
deacidify,
deacon,
deacon seat,
deaconess,
deaconry,
deactivate,
deacylase,
dead,
dead ahead
Example sentences from the Web for deaconess
British Dictionary definitions for deaconess
deaconess
/ (ˈdiːkənɪs) /
noun
Christianity
(in the early church and in some modern Churches) a female member of the laity with duties similar to those of a deacon