verger
/ˈvɝd͡ʒɚ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.12 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A lay person who takes care of the interior of a church and acts as an attendant during services, where he or she carries the verge (or virge). In the United States, the office is generally combined with that of sexton.
British usage
Example Sentences
- ""We have often seen each other," said Little Dorrit, recognising the sexton, or the beadle, or the verger, or whatever he was, "when I have been at church here.""
- "As soon as we were all in the night the verger rolled shut the doors and blotted out the chandeliers."
- "When she came to her place she opened the book, and perused it, and saw the pictures, but frowned and blushed; and then shut it, (of which several took notice,) and calling the verger, bade him bring her the old book, wherein she was formerly wont to read."
Etymology
Etymology tree English verge Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English verger From verge (“rod”) + -er.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈvɝd͡ʒɚ/
- British English: /ˈvɜːd͡ʒə/
Usage
- British usage