Definition

A woman in a church who helps the minister with different tasks and responsibilities.

Example

The deaconess organized the charity event for the community.

Conversation

Did you hear that Sarah became a deaconess?

Really? That's great! What does that involve?

She'll be assisting the minister with various duties.

That sounds like a meaningful role for her.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Deaconess is formed from "deacon" (from Greek "diakonos", meaning servant or minister) and the suffix "-ess" (meaning female). The term refers to a female servant or minister in a church context.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'servant' ('diakonos') in a church, and the '-ess' indicates that this servant is female. This helps you remember that a deaconess is a female minister or servant.

Visually Confused Words