[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

deacon \dea"con\ d=e"k'n, v. t.
   1. to read aloud each line of a psalm or hymn before
      singing it, -- usually with off. colloq. new. eng. see
      line, v. t.
      1913 webster

   note: the expression is derived from a former custom in the
         congregational churches of new england. it was part of
         the office of a deacon to read aloud the psalm given
         out, one line at a time, the congregation singing each
         line as soon as read; -- called, also, lining out the
         psalm.
         1913 webster

   2. with humorous reference to hypocritical posing: to pack
      fruit or vegetables with the finest specimens on top; to
      alter slyly the boundaries of land; to adulterate or
      doctor an article to be sold, etc. colloq., u. s.
      webster 1913 suppl.
see also:
line 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

deacon \dea"con\ d=e"k'n, n. oe. diakne, deakne, deken, as.
   diacon, deacon, l. diaconus, fr. gr. dia`konos a servant or
   minister, a minister of the church; of uncertain origin. in
   sense 2 prob. confused with dean.
   1. eccl. an officer in christian churches appointed to
      perform certain subordinate duties varying in different
      communions. in the roman catholic and episcopal churches,
      a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry,
      subordinate to the bishops and priests. in presbyterian
      churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders,
      and has charge of certain duties connected with the
      communion service and the care of the poor. in
      congregational churches, he is subordinate to the pastor,
      and has duties as in the presbyterian church.
      1913 webster

   2. the chairman of an incorporated company. scot.
      1913 webster

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

deacon
     n 1: a protestant layman who assists the minister syn: protestant
          deacon
     2: a cleric ranking just below a priest in christian churches;
        one of the holy orders
see also:
protestant deacon 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

55 moby thesaurus words for "deacon":
   aaronic priesthood, bible clerk, bible reader,
   melchizedek priesthood, seventy, acolyte, acolytus, almoner,
   anagnost, apostle, beadle, bedral, bishop, capitular, capitulary,
   choir chaplain, churchwarden, clerk, deaconess, diaconus,
   doorkeeper, elder, elderman, exorcist, exorcista, high priest,
   holy orders, lay elder, lay reader, lector, lecturer, major orders,
   minor orders, ostiarius, parish clerk, patriarch, precentor,
   presbyter, priest, reader, ruling elder, sacrist, sacristan,
   sexton, shames, sidesman, subdeacon, subdiaconus, succentor,
   suisse, teacher, teaching elder, thurifer, verger, vergeress

[5] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

deacon
     
        direct english access and control.  english-like query system.
        sammet 1969, p.668.
     
     

[6] : Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

deacon
   anglicized form of the greek word diaconos, meaning a "runner,"
   "messenger," "servant." for a long period a feeling of mutual
   jealousy had existed between the "hebrews," or jews proper, who
   spoke the sacred language of palestine, and the "hellenists," or
   jews of the grecian speech, who had adopted the grecian
   language, and read the septuagint version of the bible instead
   of the hebrew. this jealousy early appeared in the christian
   community. it was alleged by the hellenists that their widows
   were overlooked in the daily distribution of alms. this spirit
   must be checked. the apostles accordingly advised the disciples
   to look out for seven men of good report, full of the holy
   ghost, and men of practical wisdom, who should take entire
   charge of this distribution, leaving them free to devote
   themselves entirely to the spiritual functions of their office
   acts 6:1-6. this was accordingly done. seven men were chosen,
   who appear from their names to have been hellenists. the name
   "deacon" is nowhere applied to them in the new testament; they
   are simply called "the seven" 21:8. their office was at first
   secular, but it afterwards became also spiritual; for among
   other qualifications they must also be "apt to teach" 1 tim. 3:
   8-12. both philip and stephen, who were of "the seven,"
   preached; they did "the work of evangelists."
   

[7] : Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

deacon, eccl. law. a minister or servant in the church whose office, in some 
churches, is to assist the priest in divine service, and the distribution of 
the sacrament. 

Deacon >> D Words
Deacon, definition of term: Deacon
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