Altarist
/ˈɔːl.tər.ɪst/noun
A person who serves at or is associated with an altar, especially in a religious setting.
Did you know?Altarist is a relatively rare English formation built from altar with the agentive suffix -ist, a pattern historically used for people associated with a practice or institution.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*al-
“A reconstructed root associated with growing, nourishing, or becoming strong; its precise connection to altar is debated.”
Classical Latin
Latin
altare
“An altar or raised place for offerings, traditionally connected with altus, meaning “high” or “raised.””
Old English
Old English
alter
“An altar, borrowed from Latin through Christian religious usage.”
Middle English
Middle English
auter / alter
“An altar; forms were influenced by Anglo-Norman and Old French religious vocabulary.”
14th Century
English
altar
“The standard English form for a raised structure used for religious sacrifice, worship, or offerings.”
Modern English
English
altarist
“A person who serves at or is connected with an altar, formed from altar plus -ist.”