altar-boy
Definition
- Noun:
- A young male assistant in a church service: "altar-boy" refers to a boy or young man who assists a priest during religious ceremonies, especially in Christian churches, typically by carrying candles, holding the book, or preparing the altar.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The altar-boy lit the candles before the morning mass began. (A young assistant performed a duty in the church service.)
- He served as an altar-boy for five years at his local parish. (He fulfilled the role of a young church assistant.)
Advanced Usage
- "To be an altar-boy": to serve in this role as a form of religious participation or training.
- Many boys in the village aspired to be altar-boys. (They wanted to assist in church ceremonies.)
Variants and Related Words
- Altar (n): the table or structure used for religious rituals in a church.
- The priest placed the chalice on the altar. (The sacred table in the church.)
- Altar girl (n): a female equivalent of an altar-boy (though less common in traditional contexts).
- The church now allows altar girls to assist in services. (Female assistants in church ceremonies.)
Synonyms
- Acolyte: a person who assists in religious services, often a young person.
- Server: a general term for someone who serves during a church liturgy.
Related Idioms