English
deacon
Deacon comes from Middle English deken ‘a deacon’, and goes back to Ancient Greek διᾱ́κονος ‘servant, minister’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδιᾱ́κονοςdiā́konos‘servant, minister’
- Ecclesiastical Latinc. 200–1500diāconus
- Old Englishc. 450–1150diacon
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500deken‘a deacon’
- Englishearliest quotation 1868deacon
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEδιᾱ́κονοςdiā́konos‘servant, minister’
- Ecclesiastical Latinc. 200–1500diāconus
- Old Englishc. 450–1150diacon
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500deken‘a deacon’
- Englishearliest quotation 1868deacon
Earliest quotation: 1868, Louisa May Alcott: “The blanc mange was lumpy, and the strawberries not…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek διᾱ́κονος
Today it means
noun A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek διᾱ́κονος / deacon