Dictionary

acolyte en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈæk.ə.laɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈæk.ə.lɑet/ (Australia)
• [ˈæk.ə.lɐɪt] (Canada, General-American) Canadian raising
• /ˈɛk.ə.laɪt/ (New-Zealand)
• (California) audio
• /ˈæk.ə.laɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
• [ˈɛk.ə.lɑe̯t] (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From Middle English acolite, acolit, from Old French acolyt and Late Latin acolythus, from Ancient Greek ἀκόλουθος (akólouthos, “follower, attendant”).

Meanings

1. 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.
2. An altar server.
   • The kneeling acolyte chimed a sacring-bell, and the congregation bent and swayed like a wheat-field swept scross by sudden wind. 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 27:
3. An attendant, assistant, or follower.
   • “Apparently, one of Milius's acolytes spends a lot of time at the top of that huge, dangerous mountain. Better get climbing.” “(groans) Oh.” 2024 October 31, Stephanie Amante-Ritter, “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” (8:16 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 5, episode 3, spoken by Jack Ransom (Jerry O'Connell):
4. A devoted follower, fan, especially an overly eager one, following blindly.

Forms

Deriveds

acolytate · Macolyte · acolyteship

Synonyms

sidekick (assistant)

Translations (40)

el ακόλουθος (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · pl akolitka (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · nl acoliet (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · fi akolyytti (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · de Gehilfe (in general: assistant) · tl sakristan (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · pt acólito (in general: assistant) · el βοηθός (in general: assistant) · fr acolyte (in general: assistant) · pl akolita (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · ga acalaí (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · es acólito (in general: assistant) · fi apuri (in general: assistant) · fi apulainen (in general: assistant) · nl helper (in general: assistant) · vi chú giúp lễ (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · eo akolito (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · de Akolyth (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · it accolito (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · fr acolyte (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · tr rahip yardımcısı (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · ga túiseoir (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · ca acòlit (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · tl monasilyo (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · hu akolitus (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · mk по́мошник (in general: assistant) · pl akolitka (in general: assistant) · pt acólito (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · tl munisilyo (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · pt ajudante (in general: assistant) · fi avustaja (in general: assistant) · es acólito (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · pl akolita (in general: assistant) · ia acolyto (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · id akolit (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · tl akolito (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · pt assistente (in general: assistant) · mk аколут (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · ms akolit (Catholic church: highest of the minor orders; ordained to carry wine, water and lights at the Mass) · no assistent (in general: assistant)