English
acolyte
Acolyte comes from Old French acolyt, from Ancient Greek ἀκόλουθος ‘follower, attendant’, and ultimately from κέλευθος ‘path’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκέλευθοςkéleuthos‘path’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀκόλουθοςakólouthos‘follower, attendant’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400acolyt
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500acolite
- Englishearliest quotation 1965acolyte
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκέλευθοςkéleuthos‘path’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀκόλουθοςakólouthos‘follower, attendant’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400acolyt
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500acolite
- Englishearliest quotation 1965acolyte
Earliest quotation: 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic: “The kneeling acolyte chimed a sacring-bell, and the congregation…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek κέλευθος
Today it means
noun One who has received the highest of the four minor orders in the Catholic Church, being ordained to carry the wine, water and lights at Mass.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek κέλευθος / acolyte