Diakonos
/diˈa.ko.nos/noun
An ancient Greek term meaning a servant, attendant, or minister, later used for a Christian deacon.
Did you know?Although later Christian tradition made diakonos an ecclesiastical office, the Greek word originally described practical service and attendants in ordinary settings.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Greek
Greek
διάκονος (diákonos)
“A servant, attendant, messenger, or minister”
1st Century
Greek
διάκονος (diákonos)
“A person who serves or assists, including a Christian minister”
4th Century
Late Greek
διάκονος (diákonos)
“An appointed assistant in the Christian church”
Old English period
Old English
diacon
“A church deacon, borrowed through Latin ecclesiastical usage”
12th Century
Old French
diakene/deacne
“A deacon or church minister”
Modern English
English
deacon
“A cleric ranking below a priest, or a lay officer in some Christian denominations”