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sexton
sexton a person who looks after a church and churchyard, typically acting as bell-ringer and gravedigger; in early use, often the sacristan in a religious house or cathedral, having charge of the vestments, sacred vessels, and relics. The word comes via Anglo-Norman French from medieval Latin sacristanus ‘sacristan’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "sexton." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "sexton." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-sexton.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "sexton." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-sexton.html |
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sexton
sexton. Traditionally the sexton was the assistant to the parish clerk. His main duties were cleaning the church, ringing the bell, and digging graves. In the C of E he is now appointed by the minister and Parochial Church Council, who determine the nature of his duties and terms of employment (can. E 3 of 1969).
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "sexton." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "sexton." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-sexton.html E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "sexton." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-sexton.html |
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sexton
sexton sacristan, (later) guardian of a church fabric and churchyard, bell-ringer and grave-digger. XIV. ME. segerstane, secristeyn, sekesteyn, sexteyn, (from XVI) sexton — AN., OF. segerstein, secrestein — medL. sacristānus SACRISTAN.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "sexton." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "sexton." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sexton.html T. F. HOAD. "sexton." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sexton.html |
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sexton
sex·ton / ˈsekstən/ • n. a person who looks after a church and churchyard, sometimes acting as bell-ringer and formerly as a gravedigger. |
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Cite this article
"sexton." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sexton." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sexton005.html "sexton." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sexton005.html |
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