lector
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A public reader, especially in a religious or academic context: A person who reads aloud, particularly scripture or lessons during a religious service, or who gives public lectures at a university. 2. A minor clerical order in the Roman Catholic Church: A person ordained to the office of lector, with the primary duty of reading sacred scripture during liturgical ceremonies.
Usage and Examples
In a religious context:
- The lector stepped up to the ambo to read the first lesson from the Old Testament.
- Her clear, resonant voice made her an excellent lector for the parish.
In an academic context (historical/formal):
- The university appointed a distinguished scholar as a lector to deliver a series of public lectures on medieval history.
Advanced Usage and Notes
- The term lector is more formal and specific than the general word "reader." It often implies an official or appointed role.
- In the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, the lector is one of the minor orders, a step in the process toward priesthood. The role emphasizes the ministry of the Word.
- In some universities, particularly in historical or European contexts, a lector was a junior teaching position or a person hired to give lectures.
Variants and Related Words
- Lectorship (n): The office or position of a lector.
- He was appointed to the lectorship in divinity.
- Lectorate (n): The body of lectors or the period of service of a lector.
- Lecture (n/v): A formal talk on a subject; to give such a talk. (This is a related but distinct word, sharing the Latin root , meaning "to read.")
Synonyms
- Reader: A person who reads, especially one appointed to read in a religious service.
- Lecturer: A person who gives lectures, especially as a teacher in higher education. (Note: This is a closer synonym for the academic sense.)
- Commentator: In some contexts, one who explains or interprets texts, though this is not a direct synonym.
Related Phrases and Roles
- Lay Reader: In many Christian denominations, a layperson authorized to lead parts of a service, including scripture readings, similar to a lector.
- Cantor: A person who leads the singing in a religious service, a distinct role from the lector, who leads the spoken word.
Noun
- a public lecturer at certain universities
- someone who reads the lessons in a church service; someone ordained in a minor order of the Roman Catholic Church