Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
usher [uhsh-er] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- a person who escorts people to seats in a theater, church, etc.
- a person acting as an official doorkeeper, as in a courtroom or legislative chamber.
- a male attendant of a bridegroom at a wedding.
- an officer whose business it is to introduce strangers or to walk before a person of rank.
- British Archaic. a subordinate teacher or an assistant in a school.
verb (used with object)
- to act as an usher to; lead, introduce, or conduct: She ushered them to their seats.
- to attend or bring at the coming or beginning; precede or herald (usually followed by in): to usher in the new theater season.
verb (used without object)
- to act as an usher: He ushered at the banquet.
Origin of usher 1350–1400; Middle English uscher doorkeeper Anglo-French usser, Old French (h)uissier doorman, officer of justice Vulgar Latin *ustiārius, equivalent to Latin ōsti(um) door + -ārius -ary; see -er2 Related formsush·er·ship, nounun·der·ush·er, nounun·ush·ered, adjective Related Words for ushers initiate, steer, escort, precede, leader, conductor, lead, precursor, guide, herald, attendant, page, pilot, doorkeeper, launch, receive, originate, direct, introduce, institute Examples from the Web for ushers Contemporary Examples of ushers
Ted Lindsay, Reggie Sinclair, and Marty Pavelich of the Red Wings, were ushers, and Ted’s wife, Pat, was matron of honor.
Gordie Howe Hockey’s Greatest War Horse
W.C. Heinz
May 31, 2014
Their garb lent them either the gravitas the Republican bench has previously lacked, or the doleful aspect of ushers at a funeral.
Huckabee Grills GOP Candidates in Republican Presidential Forum
Lloyd Grove
December 4, 2011
Ushers passed around little pieces of paper on which congregants could inscribe messages of support to victims of sexual abuse.
Faithful Struggle With Scandal at Penn State, Where Football Is Religion
Jacob Bernstein, Jessica Bennett
November 14, 2011
Dissatisfaction on the home front necessitates a showdown that ushers in a desired new order.
Your Week: What the Stars Hold
Starsky + Cox
September 4, 2011
She goes to the door and ushers in a tall, handsome man, impeccably put together.
The Russian Spy We Didn’t Catch
Lawrence Schiller
July 2, 2010
Historical Examples of ushers
But it was merely the ushers opening a passage for the cortege.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
If the ushers were to be believed, the discussion was likely to go on interminably.
Pierre Souvestre
She will have to know me because Gay helped furnish her apartment and was one of her ushers.
Nalbro Bartley
The bridegroom and the ushers, in that case, are all in full dress uniform.
Edith B. Ordway
The many young women, acting as ushers, were devoted to her and eager to serve her.
Alma Lutz
British Dictionary definitions for ushers usher noun
- an official who shows people to their seats, as in a church or theatre
- a person who acts as doorkeeper, esp in a court of law
- (in England) a minor official charged with maintaining order in a court of law
- an officer responsible for preceding persons of rank in a procession or introducing strangers at formal functions
- British obsolete a teacher
verb (tr)
- to conduct or escort, esp in a courteous or obsequious way
- (usually foll by in) to be a precursor or herald (of)
Word Origin for usher C14: from Old French huissier doorkeeper, from Vulgar Latin ustiārius (unattested), from Latin ostium door Usher noun
- a variant spelling of (James) Ussher
Word Origin and History for ushers usher v.
“conduct, escort,” 1590s, from usher (n.). Related: Ushered; ushering.
usher n.
late 14c., “servant who has charge of doors and admits people to a chamber, hall, etc.,” from Anglo-French usser (12c.), from Old French ussier, from Vulgar Latin ustiarius “doorkeeper,” from Latin ostiarius “door-keeper,” from ostium “door, entrance,” related to os “mouth.” Fem. form usherette is attested from 1925.