acolyte

noun

ac·​o·​lyte ˈa-kə-ˌlīt 

-kō-

1

: one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties

2

: one who attends or assists a leader : follower

The mayor dined with a few of his acolytes.

Did you know?

Follow the etymological path of acolyte back far enough and you'll arrive at kéleuthos, a Greek noun that means "path" and that is itself the parent of akólouthos, an adjective that means "following." Akólouthos traveled from Greek, leaving offspring in Medieval Latin and Anglo-French; its English descendant, acolyte, emerged in the 14th century. Originally, acolyte was exclusively a term for a person who assisted a priest at Mass, but by the 19th century, the word had acquired additional meanings, among them "attendant body, satellite" (a meaning used in astronomy) and "attendant insect" (a zoological sense), as well as the general meaning "assistant" or "sidekick."

Synonyms

• adherent
• convert
• disciple
• epigone
• follower
• liege man
• partisan
• partizan
• pupil
• votarist
• votary

Examples of acolyte in a Sentence

a popular professor dining with a few of her acolytes

a highly influential economist whose acolytes can be found at many major universities

Recent Examples on the Web

Cartoonish depictions of American national-defense operations may do for Assange and his acolytes in Europe and Hollywood. —The Editors, National Review, 26 June 2024

Enjoying the 22-year-old newcomer from the University of Iowa is not enough; her acolytes demand that all fans and the league itself must bow down and express gratitude for the interest in Clark, especially the interest from White and male audiences. —Karen Attiah, Washington Post, 21 June 2024

The indictment also accuses Trump and his acolytes of bullying Atlanta election workers and ginning up slates of fake pro-Trump electors, among other actions designed to overturn his election defeat. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2024

Tapper and Bash have already become social media piñatas this week, with Trump acolytes claiming that the Republican won’t get a fair shake. —Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acolite, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French acolit, borrowed from Medieval Latin acolūthus, acolythus, acolitus, going back to Late Latin, "person assisting the priest," borrowed from Middle Greek akólouthos, going back to Greek, "following, (as noun) follower, attendant," from a- (variant, before a following aspirate consonant, of ha- "having one, having the same," going back to Indo-European sm̥-) + -kolouthos (ablaut form, in a compound, of kéleuthos "path"); akin to Greek heîs "one," homós "same" and perhaps to Greek keleúein "to direct forward, urge on" — more at same entry 1, hold entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

acolyte

noun

ac·​o·​lyte ˈak-ə-ˌlīt 

: a person who assists a member of the clergy in a service