deaconess

English

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English dekenesse; equivalent to deacon +‎ -ess.

Pronunciation

• (UK, General American) IPA^(key): /ˌdiːkəˈnɛs/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

deaconess (plural deaconesses)

1. (Christianity) A non-clerical role for women in some churches.
2. (Christianity, rare) A female deacon.
3. A female servant in the early Christian church.
4. The nun in charge of the altar in a convent.
5. One of an order of women in some Protestant churches who nurse the sick and tend the poor.

Coordinate terms

• deacon

Derived terms

• deaconess-house
• deaconess house

Related terms

• deaconry
• deaconship
• diaconal
• diaconate

Translations

female deacon

• Finnish: diakonissa (fi)
• French: diaconesse (fr) f, diaconisse (fr) f
• German: Diakonin (de) f, Diakonisse (de) f, Diakonissin (de) f
• Greek: διακόνισσα (el) f (diakónissa)
• Irish: bandeagánach m
• Italian: diaconessa (it) f
• Latin: diaconissa f
• Maltese: djakonessa f
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: diakonisse m or f

  Nynorsk: diakonisse f

• Portuguese: diaconisa (pt) f, diácona f
• Spanish: diaconisa f, diácona f
• Swedish: diakonissa (sv) c
• Welsh: diacones f, (Protestantism) blaenores f

female servant

• Finnish: diakonissa (fi)
• French: diaconesse (fr) f, diaconisse (fr) f
• Greek:

  Ancient Greek: διάκονος f (diákonos) (Romans 16:1)

• Irish: bandeagánach m
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: diakonisse m or f

  Nynorsk: diakonisse f

• Spanish: diaconisa f, diácona f
• Swedish: diakonissa (sv) c
• Welsh: diacones f, (Protestantism) blaenores f