Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

acolyte

/ˈæk.ə.laɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.41 in modern English

Syllables: acolyte
IPA: /ˈæk.ə.laɪt/

12

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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.

noun

An altar server.

noun

An attendant, assistant, or follower.

noun

A devoted follower, fan, especially an overly eager one, following blindly.

Example Sentences

"The kneeling acolyte chimed a sacring-bell, and the congregation bent and swayed like a wheat-field swept scross by sudden wind."
"“Apparently, one of Milius's acolytes spends a lot of time at the top of that huge, dangerous mountain. Better get climbing.” “(groans) Oh.”"

Etymology

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

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: acolite, acolyt, acolythus, ἀκόλουθος

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈæk.ə.laɪt/
British English: /ˈæk.ə.laɪt/

Inflected Forms

acolytes (plural)

Derived Forms

acolytate acolyteship Macolyte

Synonyms

sidekick

Questions

How do you pronounce acolyte?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈæk.ə.laɪt/.
What does acolyte mean?: 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.
Where does acolyte come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce acolyte

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “acolyte”.
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