lector

noun

lec·​tor ˈlek-tər How to pronounce lector (audio)
-ˌtȯr
: a person who assists at a worship service chiefly by reading the lection

Examples of lector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Caveat lector: Failing to peruse this list of July releases may result in a severe deficit of variety in your vacation reading. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2023 While continuing to affirm that women cannot be priests, the move was a gamechanger for women in dioceses that had adhered strictly to previous wording regarding acolyte and lector positions and barred women from such roles. Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2023 Borowski and his wife Katy are lectors at Our Lady of Divine Providence Parish and St. Casimir Church. Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2023 Te interesaría participar como lector? Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 11 Dec. 2020 With things being so fluid, caveat lector. Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2011 Dillion was a regular at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, a lector who read scripture at Mass, nola.com reported. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2022 Lily Henry is an altar server, lector and teacher in the parish faith formation classes. cleveland, 30 Sep. 2022 The floor has a space where a lector, in the early 1900s, would read a variety of texts from classic literature to the daily newspaper to keep workers entertained while working. Jennifer Simonson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lector.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin, reader of the lessons in a church service, from Latin, reader, from legere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lector was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lector

Cite this Entry

“Lector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lector. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on lector

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!