acolyte

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

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ.kə.laɪt/

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acolyte (plural acolytes)

1. (Christianity) 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. (Christianity) An altar server.
3. An attendant, assistant, or follower.
   • 2024 October 31, Stephanie Amante-Ritter, “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” (8:16 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks‎^[1], season 5, episode 3, spoken by Jack Ransom (Jerry O'Connell):

     “Apparently, one of Milius's acolytes spends a lot of time at the top of that huge, dangerous mountain. Better get climbing.” “(groans) Oh.”

(assistant): sidekick

• Douglas Harper (2001–2025), “acolyte”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

• cotylae

• acolythe (obsolete)

Inherited from Old French acolyt, from Ecclesiastical Latin acolytus, from Ancient Greek ἀκόλουθος (akólouthos, “follower, attendant”).

• IPA^(key): /a.kɔ.lit/

• Audio:

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• Audio (France (Vosges)):

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• Audio (France (Somain)):

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acolyte m or f (plural acolytes)

1. (religion) acolyte
2. henchman, sidekick

• “acolyte”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.