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Deacon vs Beacon - What's the difference?

deacon | beacon |

As nouns the difference between deacon and beacon

is that deacon is a designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6) while beacon is a signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.

As verbs the difference between deacon and beacon

is that deacon is for a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir while beacon is to act as a beacon.

deacon

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (Church history) A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
  • (Roman Catholicism) A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.
  • (Protestantism) Free Churches : A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.
  • (Protestantism) Anglicanism : An ordained clergyman usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.
  • (Protestantism) Methodism : A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.
  • (freemasonry) A junior lodge officer.
  • (Mormonism) The lowest office in the (Aaronic priesthood), generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.
  • (US, animal husbandry) A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually ed (see below).
  • (Scotland) The chairman of an incorporated company.

    • Derived terms

    * archdeacon * deaconal * deaconate * deaconess * deaconize * deaconry * deacon-seat * subdeacon

    See also

    * (wikipedia "deacon") * diaconate

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (Christianity, music) For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir.
  • (US, animal husbandry) To kill a calf shortly after birth.
  • (US) To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath.
  • * {{quote-book, 1902, (George Horace Lorimer), Old Gorgon Graham citation
    • , passage=It's like buying a barrel of apples that's been deaconed — after you've found that the deeper you go the meaner and wormier the fruit, you forget all about the layer of big, rosy, wax-finished pippins that was on top.}}

    Anagrams

    * *

    beacon

    English

    (wikipedia beacon)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
  • * Gay
    • No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar.
  • (nautical) A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
  • :* A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank to warn vessels of danger; also a signal mark on land. (FM 55-501).
  • A high hill or other easily distinguishable object near the shore which can serve as guidance for seafarers.
  • That which gives notice of danger.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Modest doubt is called / The beacon of the wise.

    Derived terms

    * aerobeacon * day beacon * radio beacon * web beacon

    See also

    * cairn * leading mark * navigation aid * navigation mark * radar reflector * sea mark, seamark

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To act as a beacon.
  • To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine.
    • That beacons the darkness of heaven. — Campbell.
  • To furnish with a beacon or beacons.