From Middle English ussher, uscher, usscher, from Anglo-Norman usser and Old French ussier, uissier (“porter, doorman”) (compare French huissier), from Vulgar Latin *ustiārius (“doorkeeper”), from Latin ōstiārius, from ōstium (“door”). Akin to ōs (“mouth”). Probably a doublet of ostiary and huissier.
Meanings
A person, in a church, cinema etc., who escorts people to their seats.
A male escort at a wedding.
A doorkeeper in a courtroom.
(obsolete) An assistant to a head teacher or schoolteacher; an assistant teacher.
[H]e defrayed the expence of his entrance, and left him in the particular care and inspection of the usher, who […] though obliged by the scandalous administration of fortune to act in the character of an inferior teacher, had by his sole capacity and application, brought the school to that degree of reputation which it never could have obtained from the talents of his superior. 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
He began to learn Latin with Mr. Hawkins, usher, or under-master of Lichfield school, ‘a man (said he) very skilful in his little way.’ 1791, James Boswell, “(please specify the year)”, in James Boswell, editor, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], →OCLC:
fr ouvreur (person who escorts people to their seats) · fi ovenvartija (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · es ordenanza (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · es acomodadora (person who escorts people to their seats) · ca uixer (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · es usier (person who escorts people to their seats) · pt lanterninha (person who escorts people to their seats) · de Gerichtsdiener (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · fi kirkonpalvelija (person who escorts people to their seats) · it cerimoniere (male escort at a wedding) · hy հսկիչ (person who escorts people to their seats) · fr huissier (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · bg съдебен пристав (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · cs soudní zřízenec (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · bg разпоредител (person who escorts people to their seats) · bg разсилен (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · ro plasator (person who escorts people to their seats) · eo akceptisto (person who escorts people to their seats) · es ujier (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · hy բարապան (person who escorts people to their seats) · cs uvaděč (person who escorts people to their seats) · ja 案内人 (person who escorts people to their seats) · hu teremszolga (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · gl acomodador (person who escorts people to their seats) · cmn 引座员 (person who escorts people to their seats) · es acomodador (person who escorts people to their seats) · hu násznagy (male escort at a wedding) · ru пристав (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · hu jegyszedő (person who escorts people to their seats) · ru капельдинер (person who escorts people to their seats) · vo seadöpijonan (person who escorts people to their seats) · cs biletář (person who escorts people to their seats) · gl uxier (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · vo seadöpijijonan (person who escorts people to their seats) · hu jegyszedőnő (person who escorts people to their seats) · fr escorte (male escort at a wedding) · ro aprod (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · de Platzanweiser (person who escorts people to their seats) · fi suntio (person who escorts people to their seats) · it maschera (person who escorts people to their seats) · es usier (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · mk распоре́дувач (person who escorts people to their seats) · ro aprod (person who escorts people to their seats) · hu vőfély (male escort at a wedding) · it messo (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · es bedel (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · pt arrumador (person who escorts people to their seats) · mi kaitaupaepae (person who escorts people to their seats) · fr garçon d'honneur (male escort at a wedding) · ro ușier (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · fi paikannäyttäjä (person who escorts people to their seats) · fi sulhaspoika (male escort at a wedding) · it usciere (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · nl ouvreuse (person who escorts people to their seats) · es ujier (person who escorts people to their seats) · nl plaatsaanwijzer (person who escorts people to their seats) · cmn 伴郎 (male escort at a wedding) · vo seadöpihijonan (person who escorts people to their seats) · es portero de estrados (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · hy շվեյցար (person who escorts people to their seats) · sh razvodnik (person who escorts people to their seats) · bg ша́фер (male escort at a wedding) · el ταξιθέτης (person who escorts people to their seats) · mk распоре́дител (person who escorts people to their seats) · gl budel (doorkeeper in a courtroom) · ru ша́фер (male escort at a wedding) · hy դռնապան (person who escorts people to their seats)
From Middle English ussher, uscher, usscher, from Anglo-Norman usser and Old French ussier, uissier (“porter, doorman”) (compare French huissier), from Vulgar Latin *ustiārius (“doorkeeper”), from Latin ōstiārius, from ōstium (“door”). Akin to ōs (“mouth”). Probably a doublet of ostiary and huissier.
Meanings
(transitive) To guide people to their seats.
Needless to say, one's seat must be booked in advance and a platoon of urbane officials, one to each door of the train, awaits passengers to usher them to their seats and relieve them of their bulkier baggage. 1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 140:
Her entrance into church on Sunday is always the signal for a little bustle in the side aisle, occasioned by a general rise among the poor people, who bow and curtsey until the pew-opener has ushered the old lady into her accustomed seat, dropped a respectful curtsey, and shut the door; 1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC, chapter THE CURATE. THE OLD LADY. THE HALF-PAY CAPTAIN.:
(transitive) To accompany or escort (someone).
[N]ay he can ſing / A meane moſt meanely, and in huſhering, / Mende him who can[.] c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], signature H2, recto:
Hee brought-in likewiſe the ancient cuſtome againe, that in what moneth hee had not the Knitches of rods with Axes borne before him, a publique Officer called Accensvs ſhould huiſher him before, and the Serjeants or Lictours follow after behinde. 1606, Caius [i.e., Gaius] Suetonius Tranquillus, “The Historie of Caius Iulius Cesar Dictator”, in Philêmon Holland, transl., The Historie of Twelve Cæsars Emperours of Rome. […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes and George Snowdon] for Matthew Lownes, →OCLC, section 20, page 8:
Margaret was astonished at the magnificence of the apartments into which she was ushered. 1898, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic, page 509:
(figuratively, transitive) To precede; to act as a forerunner or herald.
Thus the Harvard poets and wits ushered The New England Courant out of existence. 1912, Elizabeth Christine Cook, Literary Influences in Colonial Newspapers, 1704-1750, page 31:
(figuratively, transitive) To lead or guide somewhere.
McCoist unexpectedly ushered back a defender of his own with Kirk Broadfoot taking over from Steven Whittaker. There was, of course, another change, Kyle Bartley stepping in at centre-half to replace suspended Dorin Goian. 2011 December 29, Keith Jackson, “SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0”, in Daily Record:
it guidare (to guide people to their seats) · fi ohjata (to accompany or escort) · hu ki)kísér (to accompany or escort) · de begleiten (to accompany or escort) · fi ennakoida (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · es preceder (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · fi opastaa (to guide people to their seats) · hu ültet (to guide people to their seats) · eo konduki (to accompany or escort) · ru провожать (to guide people to their seats) · fi opastaa (to accompany or escort) · fr escorter (to accompany or escort) · hu ki)vezet (to accompany or escort) · hu (be (to accompany or escort) · de anweisen (to guide people to their seats) · es escoltar (to accompany or escort) · es acomodar (to guide people to their seats) · hy ուղեկցել (to guide people to their seats) · fi ohjata (to guide people to their seats) · mk при́дружи (to accompany or escort) · hu (be (to accompany or escort) · de führen (to guide people to their seats) · mk о́дведе (to guide people to their seats) · hu ki)tessékel (to accompany or escort) · it accompagnare (to guide people to their seats) · es acompañar (to accompany or escort) · es anunciar (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · it introdurre (to accompany or escort) · nl aanwijzen (to guide people to their seats) · ro plasa (to guide people to their seats) · mi taupaepae (to accompany or escort) · it precorrere (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · mk про́гласи (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · it precedere (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · es preludiar (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · de Gesellschaft leisten (to accompany or escort) · es iniciar (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · mk о́днесе (to guide people to their seats) · hu beharangoz (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · ru возвещать (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · de vorausgehen (to precede; to act as a forerunner or herald) · it scortare (to accompany or escort) · hu vezet (to guide people to their seats) · de zuweisen (to guide people to their seats) · ru сопровожда́ть (to accompany or escort) · hy առաջնորդել (to guide people to their seats) · nl begeleiden (to accompany or escort) · hu kísér (to guide people to their seats)